Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE IVORY CRADLE, by AUGUSTE ANGELLIER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE IVORY CRADLE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The cradle I have made for thee
Last Line: Undone, and broken, and bereft.
Subject(s): Cradles


THE cradle I have made for thee
Is carved of orient ivory,
And curtained round with wavy silk
More white than hawthorn-bloom or milk.

A twig of box, a lilac spray,
Will drive the goblin-horde away;
And charm thy childlike heart to keep
Her happy dream and virgin sleep.

Within that pure and fragrant nest,
I'll rock thy gentle soul to rest,
With tender songs we need not fear
To have a passing angel hear.

Ah, long and long I fain would hold
The snowy curtain's guardian fold
Around thy crystal visions, born
In clearness of the early morn.

But look, the sun is glowing red
With triumph in his golden bed;
Aurora's virgin whiteness dies
In crimson glory of the skies.

The rapid flame will burn its way
Through these white curtains, too, one day;
The ivory cradle will be left
Undone, and broken, and bereft.





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