Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, IANTHE'S SHELL, by WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR


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IANTHE'S SHELL, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Darling shell, where hast thou been
Last Line: Dear to her than thou to me.
Subject(s): Shells; Conchology


DARLING shell, where hast thou been,
West or East? or heard or seen?
From what pastimes art thou come?
Can we make amends at home?

Whether thou hast tuned the dance
To the maids of ocean
Know I not; but Ignorance
Never hurts Devotion.

This I know, Ianthe's shell,
I must ever love thee well,
Though too little to resound
While the Nereids dance around;

For, of all the shells that are,
Thou art sure the brightest;
Thou, Ianthe's infant care,
Most these eyes delightest.

To thy early aid she owes
Teeth like budding snowdrop rows:
And what other shell can say
On her bosom once it lay?

That which into Cyprus bore
Venus from her native sea,
(Pride of shells!) was never more
Dear to her than thou to me.





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