Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ZAPHNA OF BATUSHKOFF, by THOMAS WALSH


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ZAPHNA OF BATUSHKOFF, by                    
First Line: The storm is over; from the rifting blue
Last Line: The stream will sweep no more with foam and blare.
Alternate Author Name(s): Gill, Roderick; Strange, Garrett
Subject(s): Love; Women


THE storm is over; from the rifting blue
The sun appears beyond the western field
Where now the freshet breaks its channel through
Exulting wildly. See, a rose would yield
Her tribute to thy hand, dear Zaphna; and see
How from the rock beneath the palm tree there
The white cascade is hurried noisily
Within the grove with dash of foam and blare.
Thy presence, Zaphna, seems to light the glen;
Sweet hast thou sung the songs of love to me
Over and over and the breeze again
Borne them on gentle pinions far from thee.
Thy voice, beloved, like the breath of morn
Sounds through the blossoms glistening everywhere;
Ah, turbid stream, cease now thy clamourous scorn
As on thou sweepst with dashing foam and blare!
Zaphna, thou blushest?—Ah, sweet innocence,
Come press to mine those lips of coral rare;
And thou lone streamlet, guard our confidence
As on thou sweepst with dashing foam and blare.
Look now, fair Zaphna, where afloat upon
The tide a rosemary is borne away;
On glides the current,—soon the flower is gone,—
My own, and think'st thou Time less swift than they?
Ah, though to-day yon ring-doves passionate
Gaze down on us in envy, Time will bear
Youth and its charm away and—desolate—
The stream will sweep no more with foam and blare.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net