VENUS, take this shell, Offering of a bride! Once it rose and fell On thy moony tide; Let its pearly bulwarks dwell By thy side. Rigged with gossamer, O'er thy seas it flew; Never a wind would stir Cord or sail or crew; Halcyon-like, this mariner Cleft the blue. Blithe even so was I, Gay, light-hearted maid; Now my sails are dry, My fond crew afraid; Goddess, goddess! come, I cry, To my aid! Is it bliss or woe, Nevermore to flee O'er the full heart's flow, Indolent and free, -- As this shell strayed long ago O'er the sea? Venus, take this shell, Pearly like a tear! Ah! I cannot tell What I wish or fear; Guard me through the miracle, Dread and dear. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE by EMMA LAZARUS A CHILD'S PRAYER [OR, HYMN] by MATILDA BARBARA BETHAM-EDWARDS TO THE LADIES by MARY LEE CHUDLEIGH FONTENOY by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS THE WASTE LAND (1-5, COMPLETE) by THOMAS STEARNS ELIOT |