I wandered in the garden of my dreams: Magnolias shook out waxen petals that burst Against the glittering upthrust of strong green leaves. There were glassy glaucous pools of green-blue water, And columned poplars broken in the sky; And in the midst a sarcophagus, A rosy and golden sarcophagus, A tomb of marble and bronze for us To watch the swallows fly. Heroes and warriors in armour Guarded our solemn rest. There we lay together safely, Stone breast against stone breast; Griffins with clutching paws Lifted their beaks on high; And in the midst a sarcophagus, An impenetrable sarcophagus, A tomb aloof, alone, for us To watch the swallows fly. I see sometimes sunlight flecking The warm curves of your breast; But you never turn to me with a smile, And say, "Dear one, how do you rest?" The magnolias drop cupped waxen petals Against the breeze, with a sigh: And in the midst is a sarcophagus, A golden, cold sarcophagus, A lofty forgotten tomb for us To watch the swallows fly. At night the stars like great white swans Swim lazily overhead; The guardians, weary of endless dawns, Droop each a heavy head; The bat flits amid the cypresses, But we sleep deep on high; And we are safe in our sarcophagus, Our deep pale-grey sarcophagus, Our tomb in the twilight made for us, To watch, till the swallows fly. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BOHEMIAN HYMN by RALPH WALDO EMERSON VAIN TEARS, FR. THE QUEEN OF CORINTH by JOHN FLETCHER GROWING OLD by FRANCIS LEDWIDGE THE FOOL AND THE POET by ALEXANDER POPE MY PRAYER FOR TODAY by MAUD AKERS TO THE MOONFLOWER by CRAVEN LANGSTROTH BETTS HAPPINESS by EARL ALONZO BRININSTOOL THE POPPIES by AMELIA JOSEPHINE BURR ON THE EPICUREAN, STOIC, AND CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY by JOHN BYROM |