Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE LOVELIEST FACE AND THE WILD ROSE, by RICHARD THOMAS LE GALLIENNE Poet's Biography First Line: The loveliest face! I turned to her Last Line: In the white being of one girl. Subject(s): Beauty; Flowers; Roses | ||||||||
THE loveliest face! I turned to her Shut in 'mid savage rocks and trees; -- 'Twas in the May-time of the year, And our two hearts were filled with ease -- And pointed where a wild-rose grew, Suddenly fair in that grim place: "We should know all, if we but knew Whence came this flower, and whence -- this face." The loveliest face! My thoughts went around: "Strange sister of this little rose, So softly 'scaped from underground; O tell me if your beauty knows, Being itself so fair a thing, How came this lovely thing so fair, How came it to such blossoming, Leaning so strangely from the air? "The wonder of its being born, So lone and lovely -- even as you -- Half maiden-moon, half maiden-morn, And delicately sad with dew; How came it in this rocky place? Or shall I ask the rose if she Knows how this marvel of your face On this harsh planet came to be?" Earth's bluest eyes gazed into mine, And on her head Earth's brightest gold Made all the rocks with glory shine -- But still the secret went untold; For rose nor girl, no more than I, Their own mysterious meaning knew, Save that alike from earth and sky Each her enchanted being drew. Both from deep wells of wonder sprang, Both children of the cosmic dream, Alike with yonder bird that sang, And little lives that flit and gleam; Sparks from the central rose of fire That at the heart of being burns, That draws the lily from the mire And trodden dust to beauty turns. Strange wand of Beauty -- that transforms Old dross to dreams, that softly glows On the fierce rainbowed front of storms, And smiles on unascended snows, That from the travail of lone seas Wrests sighing shell and moonlit pearl, And gathers up all sorceries In the white being of one girl. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE WHISPER OF THE ROSE by EDMUND JOHN ARMSTRONG THE WISDOM OF THE ROSE by ELSA BARKER LOVE PLANTED A ROSE by KATHARINE LEE BATES ROSES; A VILANELLE by LOUISA SARAH BEVINGTON THE PAINTER ON SILK by AMY LOWELL VARIATIONS: 17 by CONRAD AIKEN WORDS IN A CERTAIN APPROPRIATE MODE by HAYDEN CARRUTH A BALLAD OF LONDON (TO H.W. MASSINGHAM) by RICHARD THOMAS LE GALLIENNE AFTER THE WAR by RICHARD THOMAS LE GALLIENNE WHAT OF THE DARKNESS?; TO THE HAPPY DEAD PEOPLE by RICHARD THOMAS LE GALLIENNE |
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