 | Collected poems of Herman Melville |  |
249
THE ARCHIPELAGO
Sail before the morning breeze
The Sporads through and Cyclades
They look like isles of absentees—
Gone whither?
The Sporads through and Cyclades
They look like isles of absentees—
Gone whither?
You bless Apollo's cheering ray,
But Delos, his own isle, today
Not e'en a Selkirk there to pray
God friend me!
But Delos, his own isle, today
Not e'en a Selkirk there to pray
God friend me!
Scarce lone these groups, scarce lone and bare
When Theseus roved a Raleigh there,
Each isle a small Virginia fair—
Unravished.
When Theseus roved a Raleigh there,
Each isle a small Virginia fair—
Unravished.
Nor less through havoc fell they rue,
They still retain in outline true
Their grace of form when earth was new
And primal.
They still retain in outline true
Their grace of form when earth was new
And primal.
But beauty clear, the frame's as yet,
Never shall make one quite forget
Thy picture, Pan, therein once set—
Life's revel!
Never shall make one quite forget
Thy picture, Pan, therein once set—
Life's revel!
'Tis Polynesia reft of palms,
Seaward no valley breathes her balms—
Not such as musk thy rings of calms,
Marquesas!
Seaward no valley breathes her balms—
Not such as musk thy rings of calms,
Marquesas!
| Collected poems of Herman Melville | |