Through what strange garden ran The sultry stream whereon This languorous nenuphar of love could grow? Such melting ardours spending to the moon, From swoon to swoon! My wondrous moonflower white, Outspread in the warm night, Tinged with a rosy tint, a golden glow, And fervours of enchantment it must hide Till daylight died. It lies so soft and fond, Wilted in my hot hand, That was so dewy fresh an hour ago. "Can life be, then," my soul is pondering, "So frail a thing?" And all because I laid The snowy petals wide; Having heard tell, yet longing still to know, What sweet things youth might barter ignorance for, Once and no more. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IDYLLS OF THE KING: TO THE QUEEN by ALFRED TENNYSON THE GRAVE OF HOMER by ALCAEUS OF MESSENE A PETITION by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE DEAD LEAF by ANTOINE VINCENT ARNAULT FAREWELL TO THE PILGRIMS by THEODORE M. BAKKE THE CATERPILLAR by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD |