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 | The poems of Madison Cawein |  |
86
ELEUSINIAN
Praxitelean marbles, fairer forms
Than Phryne's and than hers,—who loved and knew
The Attic cynic's soul,—the rosy charms
Of lovely Laïs, gradually grew
Before his eyelids, like a floating mist,
Out of the music of the citharist.
Than Phryne's and than hers,—who loved and knew
The Attic cynic's soul,—the rosy charms
Of lovely Laïs, gradually grew
Before his eyelids, like a floating mist,
Out of the music of the citharist.
And there were Dryads, laughing sidewise eyes,
Among Cithæron's ash-trees; and uncouth
Brown Satyrs, dancing 'neath Bœotian skies;
And by a fountain sat a beautiful youth,
Like some white flow'r, with dim, dejected grace,
In love with the reflection of his face.
Among Cithæron's ash-trees; and uncouth
Brown Satyrs, dancing 'neath Bœotian skies;
And by a fountain sat a beautiful youth,
Like some white flow'r, with dim, dejected grace,
In love with the reflection of his face.
And then a chord of soft bewitchment swept
Along his soul; and, oh! within a vale,
Like some young god, a godlike mortal slept;
And there was splendor on the heights, and pale
The presence of supernal purity,
Whose face was as a marble melody.
Along his soul; and, oh! within a vale,
Like some young god, a godlike mortal slept;
And there was splendor on the heights, and pale
The presence of supernal purity,
Whose face was as a marble melody.
87
And now two chords, that were two hands that strewed
Innumerable memories upon
His eyelids—and his spirit understood
How, ages past, he was Endymion,—
And, lo! again the old, wild rapture of
Immortal sorrow and immortal love.
Innumerable memories upon
His eyelids—and his spirit understood
How, ages past, he was Endymion,—
And, lo! again the old, wild rapture of
Immortal sorrow and immortal love.
| The poems of Madison Cawein | |