Twilight is mournful on the hill. 'Tis murmured Saturn squares with Mars, But who knows any woman's will? Twilight is mournful. (On the hill Carnival reigns.) Here, gaunt and ill, John dreams his dreams. Behind his bars Twilight is mournful. On the hill 'Tis murmured Saturn squares with Mars... Herod the gross and -- Philip's wife: Philip's wife, with a smouldering hate For a lean fanatic that stirs up strife! Herod the gross, and Philip's wife, And little Salome, in love with life! (A long-lashed smile for a prophet's fate!) Herod the gross and Philip's wife -- Philip's wife, with a smouldering hate! Dance on, Salome, where Herod sprawls. The finished work is but begun -- A tendril that shall break these walls! Dance on, Salome! Where Herod sprawls, A death's-head moth, bewildered, falls... Who runs may read, (but these are none!) Dance on, Salome. Where Herod sprawls The finished Work is but begun. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BALLADE OF DEAD FRIENDS by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 35 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING FRAGMENT, ON THE BACK OF THE POET'S MS. OF CANTO I OF 'DON JUAN' by GEORGE GORDON BYRON DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI: 3. FULL MOON by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER THE SHEPHEARDES CALENDER: MAY by EDMUND SPENSER IO VICTIS by WILLIAM WETMORE STORY |