I saw the first pear as it fell -- the honey-seeking, golden-banded, the yellow swarm was not more fleet that I, (spare us from loveliness) and I fell prostrate crying: you have flayed us with your blossoms, spare us the beauty of fruit-trees. The honey-seeking paused not, the air thundered their song, and I alone was prostrate. O rough-hewn god of the orchard, I bring you an offering -- do you, alone unbeautiful, son of the god, spare us from loveliness: these fallen hazel-nuts, stripped late of their green sheaths, grapes, red-purple, their berries dripping with wine, pomegranates already broken, and shrunken figs and quinces untouched, I bring you as offering. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BIRTH OF VENUS by HAYDEN CARRUTH THE RUSTIC LAD'S LAMENT IN THE TOWN by DAVID MACBETH MOIR THE ROVER O' LOCHRYAN by HEW AINSLIE POLAND by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN VERMONT WILD FLOWERS IN AUGUST by DANIEL LEAVENS CADY SIR TURLOUGH, OR THE CHURCHYARD BRIDE by WILLIAM CARLETON |