 | Sonnets in Switzerland and Italy |  |
58
DAYLIGHT ON LAGO MAGGIORE
Not as on Derwentwater, when the dawn
Comes dancing o'er Helvellyn, comes the light
To Lago Maggiore: here the night
With jealous, lingering footsteps is withdrawn,
And up the hills, and down the mountain-lawn,
The blue-eyed morn with silver sandals bright
Moves toward the sleeping waters. First to sight
The still grey mirror glimmers into fawn;
Comes dancing o'er Helvellyn, comes the light
To Lago Maggiore: here the night
With jealous, lingering footsteps is withdrawn,
And up the hills, and down the mountain-lawn,
The blue-eyed morn with silver sandals bright
Moves toward the sleeping waters. First to sight
The still grey mirror glimmers into fawn;
Next, while the church-bell moans across the mere
From some far convent, lilac steals from Heaven,
And when the swallow stirs, a roseate cloud
Casts down its purple; blackbirds sing out loud,
Green light and gold from dewy slopes are given,
Then the blue deepens, and the day is here.
From some far convent, lilac steals from Heaven,
And when the swallow stirs, a roseate cloud
Casts down its purple; blackbirds sing out loud,
Green light and gold from dewy slopes are given,
Then the blue deepens, and the day is here.
| Sonnets in Switzerland and Italy | |