 | Fantasy and Passion |  |
128
THE MOON IN THE CITY.
Pale roamer through the purple hollow of night,
In all thy wanderings weird from East to West,
What wonder thou dost gladly shower thy light
On many a dusky region of earth's breast?
In all thy wanderings weird from East to West,
What wonder thou dost gladly shower thy light
On many a dusky region of earth's breast?
Wide tracts of cloisteral forest-land, I know,
Are welcome to that luminous heart of thine,
Where under murmurous branches thou canst throw
Dim palpitant arabesques of shade and shine!
Are welcome to that luminous heart of thine,
Where under murmurous branches thou canst throw
Dim palpitant arabesques of shade and shine!
Smooth meadows dying against far opal skies
Thou lovest with lonely splendors to illumine,
And turn their bodiless vapors, when they rise,
To phantoms greatening in the doubtful gloom!
Thou lovest with lonely splendors to illumine,
And turn their bodiless vapors, when they rise,
To phantoms greatening in the doubtful gloom!
The haughtiest mountain happy dost thou feel
To mantle with thy radiance, chastely soft,
Like intercessional mercy's meek appeal
Where cold majestic justice towers aloft!
To mantle with thy radiance, chastely soft,
Like intercessional mercy's meek appeal
Where cold majestic justice towers aloft!
When deep in measureless peace he lulls his waves,
Or when their perilous masses proudly curl,
Thy pennon of brilliance, though he smiles or raves,
Along the varying sea dost thou unfurl!
Or when their perilous masses proudly curl,
Thy pennon of brilliance, though he smiles or raves,
Along the varying sea dost thou unfurl!
But ah! though forest, mountain, meadow and sea
Shall each thy separate favor sweetly win,
White lily of heaven, how can it pleasure thee
To blossom above the city's ghastly sin!
Shall each thy separate favor sweetly win,
White lily of heaven, how can it pleasure thee
To blossom above the city's ghastly sin!
| Fantasy and Passion | |