VENICE, thou Siren of sea cities, wrought By mirage, built on water, stair o'er stair, Of sunbeams and cloud shadows, phantom-fair, With naught of earth to mar thy sea-born thought! Thou floating film upon the wonder-fraught Ocean of dreams! Thou hast no dream so rare As are thy sons and daughters, -- they who wear Foam flakes of charm from thine enchantment caught. O dark brown eyes! O tangles of dark hair! O heaven-blue eyes, blonde tresses where the breeze Plays over sunburned cheeks in sea-blown air! Firm limbs of moulded bronze! frank debonair Smiles of deep-bosomed women! Loves that seize Man's soul, and waft her on storm melodies! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EDINBURGH AFTER FLODDEN by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN LEAVES A-VALLEN by WILLIAM BARNES THE SPINNER by CLARA DOTY BATES SICK BED by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN ALFRED TENNYSON by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT CLIFF DWELLER LYRICS: A LITTLE NAP IN THE MORNING by BERTON BRALEY A SEA-SIDE WALK by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING AN ELEGY UPON THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF PRINCE HENRY by THOMAS CAMPION |