THE crescent moon, with pallid glow, Swept backward like a bended bow: Across, a shaft of phantom light Thrilled, like an arrow winged for flight. Just when that flickering shaft was aimed Venus in mellow radiance flamed, Unmindful of the treacherous dart Which seemed upreared to pierce her heart; For, fain to smite her through and through, Dian lay ambushed in the blue: Half veiled from sight, still, still below, She aimed her shaft, she clasped her bow. For ever thus, since time was born, Cold virtue points @3her@1 shaft of scorn At passionate love, in whose warm beam Her own but seems a crescent dream. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MOUNTAIN LAUREL by ALFRED NOYES ODES I, 38. AD MINISTRAM by QUINTUS HORATIUS FLACCUS THE WIDOW; SAPPHICS by ROBERT SOUTHEY THE CHEAT OF CUPID; OR THE UNGENTLE GUEST by ANACREON THE COLLEGE, 1917 by HAMILTON FISH ARMSTRONG EPIGRAM by DECIMUS MAGNUS AUSONIUS NATALIA'S RESURRECTION: 24 by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT |