THE kiss that would make a maid's cheek flush Wroth, as if kissing were a sin Amidst the Argus eyes and din And tell-tale glare of noon, Brings but a murmur and a blush, Beneath the modest moon. Ye days, gone -- never to come back, When love returned entranced me so, That still its pictures move and glow In the dark chamber of my heart; Leave not my memory's future track -- I will not let you part. 'Twas moonlight, when my earliest love First on my bosom dropped her head; A moment then concentrated The bliss of years, as if the spheres Their course had faster driven, And carried Enoch-like above, A living man to Heaven. 'Tis by the rolling moon we measure, The date between our nuptial night And that blest hour which brings to light The fruit of bliss -- the pledge of faith; When we impress upon the treasure A father's earliest kiss. The Moon's the Earth's enamored bride; True to him in her very changes, To other stars she never ranges: Though, crossed by him, sometimes she dips Her light, in short offended pride, And faints to an eclipse. The fairies revel by her sheen; 'Tis only when the Moon's above The fire-fly kindles into love, And flashes light to show it: The nightingale salutes her Queen Of Heaven, her heavenly poet. Then ye that love -- by moonlight gloom Meet at my grave, and plight regard. Oh! could I be the Orphean bard Of whom it is reported, That nightingales sung o'er his tomb, Whilst lovers came and courted. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE WHITE WITCH by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON THE LADY'S 'YES' by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING ON THE MEMORABLE VICTORY OF PAUL JONES by PHILIP FRENEAU THE COURTSHIP OF MILES STANDISH by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW BROOKLYN BRIDGE by CHARLES GEORGE DOUGLAS ROBERTS |