Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE DESERT WIND, by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I went with happy heart (how happy!) a while since Last Line: Hath seared mine eyes. Subject(s): Courtship; Deserts; Food & Eating; Hearts; Love | ||||||||
I WENT with happy heart (how happy!) a while since Behind my camel flocks, Piping all day where the Nile pastures end And the white sand begins Among the rocks. The wheeling eagles mocked me high there from the skies, The red blast of the desert wind Hath seared mine eyes. I saw a lady pass, (what lady?) none could tell, Nor of her tribe nor race, Of Roum or Franjistan or Fars or Hind; None knew. But I knew well That her sweet face Had blossomed first within the gates of Paradise. The red blast of the desert wind Hath seared mine eyes. Within a tasselled frame, rich wrought, she sat and sang A song of love so sweet, That beast and bird and serpent came behind, And lizard with shut fang And faltering feet. My flocks strayed after them, and I who heard likewise. The red blast of the desert wind Hath seared mine eyes. Upon a camel tall (how tall!) she rode by me Enrobed in white and red, And veiled to her bright eyes in bands that bind But hide not all souls see; And on her head A crown entwined of wool with gold and various dyes. The red blast of the desert wind Hath seared mine eyes. Out to the wilderness, all day, we followed her. By winding paths untrod, O'er rock and plain none knew nor I could find, Although my home was there; And still we rode. The creatures tired and stopped; but I went on with sighs. The red blast of the desert wind Hath seared mine eyes. We came to a deep pool (how deep!) I knew of none In all that land accursed, A pool of waters clear with white shells lined, And there we lighted down And suaged our thirst, And bathed our weary limbs, we two without disguise. The red blast of the desert wind Hath seared mine eyes. Upon the brink we sat (ah me!) alone, we two, In that fair empty place. I kissed her hands and told her all my mind, And dared her grace to sue, Her utter grace. And she with smiles said "yea" to my too blest surprise. The red blast of the desert wind Hath seared mine eyes. Ah me, that night of stars, those bridal stars of heaven! Ah me, those eyes of hers, So sweet, so near, of that same starry kind, Which drank their light ungiven, (Poor blinded stars!) And left them dark as they have left me wise. The red blast of the desert wind Hath seared mine eyes. How shall I tell it? All three months of happy love I lived with her, blest queen, Fed on sole joy and what God's care might send Of milk and treasure-trove Of sorrels green, And roots and tubers fine and samh which we made prize. The red blast of the desert wind Hath seared mine eyes. Since when I search the Earth (sad Earth!) in vain to win Once more her wondrous voice, Which led me forth to doom and left me blind, Bereft of flocks and kin And homely joys, Of wife and children's love and to behold the skies. The red blast of the desert wind Hath seared mine eyes. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE INVENTION OF LOVE by MATTHEA HARVEY TWO VIEWS OF BUSON by ROBERT HASS A LOVE FOR FOUR VOICES: HOMAGE TO FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN by ANTHONY HECHT AN OFFERING FOR PATRICIA by ANTHONY HECHT LATE AFTERNOON: THE ONSLAUGHT OF LOVE by ANTHONY HECHT A SWEETENING ALL AROUND ME AS IT FALLS by JANE HIRSHFIELD ESTHER; A YOUNG MAN'S TRAGEDY: 50 by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT ESTHER; A YOUNG MAN'S TRAGEDY: 51 by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT THE LOVE SONNETS OF PROTEUS: 110. THE OASIS OF SIDI KHALED by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT |
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