Sonnets of the Wingless Hours By Eugene Lee-Hamilton |
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ON A SURF-ROLLED TORSO OF VENUS.
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 | Sonnets of the Wingless Hours |  |
44
ON A SURF-ROLLED TORSO OF VENUS.
DISCOVERED AT TRIPOLI VECCHIO.
One day, in the world's youth, long, long ago,
Before the golden hair of Time grew gray,
The bright warm sea, scarce stirred by dolphins' play,
Was swept by sudden music strange and low;
Before the golden hair of Time grew gray,
The bright warm sea, scarce stirred by dolphins' play,
Was swept by sudden music strange and low;
And rippling with the kisses Zephyrs blow,
Gave forth a dripping goddess, whose strong sway
All earth, all air, all wave, was to obey,
Throned on a shell more rosy than dawn's glow.
Gave forth a dripping goddess, whose strong sway
All earth, all air, all wave, was to obey,
Throned on a shell more rosy than dawn's glow.
And, lo, that self-same sea has now upthrown
A mutilated Venus, roll'd and roll'd
For centuries in surf, and who has grown
A mutilated Venus, roll'd and roll'd
For centuries in surf, and who has grown
More soft, more chaste, more lovely than of old,
With every line made vague, so that the stone
Seems seen as through a veil which Ages hold.
With every line made vague, so that the stone
Seems seen as through a veil which Ages hold.
| Sonnets of the Wingless Hours | |