Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ARIADNE WATCHING THE SAE AFTER THE DEPARTURE OF THESEUS, by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Lonely - lonely on the shore Last Line: Loving, but beloved no more! Alternate Author Name(s): L. E. L.; Maclean, Letitia Subject(s): Ariadne; Grief; Mythology - Classical; Sorrow; Sadness | ||||||||
LONELY -- lonely on the shore -- Where the mighty waters roar, Would that she could pass them o'er! Doth the maiden stand. Those small ivory feet are bare, Rosy as the small shells are, They are, than the feet, less fair On that sea-beat strand! Wherefore doth the girl complain? Wind and wave will hear in vain. Dark as is the raven's breast Wand'ring wild in its unrest -- Like a human thought in quest Of a future hour, Do her raven tresses flow Over neck and arm below, White as is the silent snow, Or the early flower! Coming ere the summer sun Colours what it shines upon. Vainly does the west wind seek To recall upon her cheek How the red rose used to break In her native isle -- Breaking with a lovely flush; But her cheek has lost its blush And her lip its smile: Once how fair they used to spring For the young Athenian King! Desolate -- how desolate -- Does the Cretan lady wait On the beach forlorn, who late In a palace dwelt. They will not -- the coming waves -- Watch her pleasure like the slaves Who before her knelt; And the least sign was command From her slight but royal hand. Lovely was the native bower Where she dwelt a guarded flower, In her other happier hour, Ere love grew to pain. Mid these grey rocks may she roam, For the maiden hath no home -- None will have again. Never more her eyes will meet Welcome from her native Crete. Little did that Princess fear, When a thousand swords were near, Where no other was her peer, That an hour was nigh, When her hands would stretch in vain Helpless to the unpitying main, To the unpitying sky -- Earth below and heaven above Witness to the wrongs of Love. On the white and sounding surge, In the dark horizon's verge, Does a vessel seem to urge Fast her onward way. And the swelling canvas spread, Glitters in the early red Of the coming day; 'Tis as if that vessel bore All the sunshine from the shore. Hath the young King left her side -- She but yesterday his bride -- Who for his sake cross'd the tide, Gave him love and life? He hath left her far behind To the warring wave and wind. But what is their strife, To the war within the heart, Which beholdeth him depart? She hath perill'd life and fame Upon an all desperate game; What availeth now her claim On the false and fled? Not him only hath she lost -- All the spirit treasured most Has its lustre shed. Let the false one cross the main, If she could believe again. After hours may yet restore To the cheek the rose it wore, And, as it has smiled before, So the lip will smile. Let them be however bright, Never will they wear the light Of their native isle. Trusting, happy were they then -- Such they cannot be again. Strange the heart's emotions are, How from out of its despair Will it summon strength to hear Desperate wrong and woe! But such strength is as the light Seen upon the grave by night -- There is death below: And the very gleam that flashes Kindles from the heart's sweet ashes. Maiden! gazing o'er the sea, Wistfully, how wistfully! -- Thine such weary doom must be -- Thine the weary heart. Woe for confidence misplaced, For affections run to waste, And for hopes that part -- Leaving us their farewell word, One for ever jarring chord. There the Cretan maiden stands, Wringing her despairing hands, Lonely on the lonely sands -- 'Tis a woman's lot: Only let her heart be won, And her summer hour is done -- Soon she is forgot; Sad she strays by life's bleak shore, Loving, but beloved no more! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONOMA FIRE by JANE HIRSHFIELD AS THE SPARKS FLY UPWARDS by JOHN HOLLANDER WHAT GREAT GRIEF HAS MADE THE EMPRESS MUTE by JUNE JORDAN CHAMBER MUSIC: 19 by JAMES JOYCE DIRGE AT THE END OF THE WOODS by LEONIE ADAMS CALYPSO WATCHING THE OCEAN by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON |
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