Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE NAUTILUS, by EDMUND WILLIAM GOSSE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE NAUTILUS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Venus, take this shell, / offering of a bride!
Last Line: Dread and dear.
Subject(s): Nautilus (shell)


VENUS, take this shell,
Offering of a bride!
Once it rose and fell
On thy moony tide;
Let its pearly bulwarks dwell
By thy side.

Rigged with gossamer,
O'er thy seas it flew;
Never a wind would stir
Cord or sail or crew;
Halcyon-like, this mariner
Cleft the blue.

Blithe even so was I,
Gay, light-hearted maid;
Now my sails are dry,
My fond crew afraid;
Goddess, goddess! come, I cry,
To my aid!

Is it bliss or woe,
Nevermore to flee
O'er the full heart's flow,
Indolent and free, --
As this shell strayed long ago
O'er the sea?

Venus, take this shell,
Pearly like a tear!
Ah! I cannot tell
What I wish or fear;
Guard me through the miracle,
Dread and dear.





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