ONE forgets not the first dead he sorrowed over; One forgets not the first kiss of the first lover. Not the dust of ages could remembrance cover How in Titian's golden kingdom first I strayed. Oh, that Roman morning's azure, softly sifting Through the gray, the while the rapt eye caught the rifting Of the sun's rich fire where molten mists were drifting, As one looks upon an opal gently swayed. Ah! but in the palace there was sun more golden! Art for once to Nature was no more beholden. Man to his beloved had the passion olden Sung in color, and his mighty Love grew Fame. For I guessed, while hotly others were contending Which was Love Divine, that each to each was lending Supplemental graces for a perfect blending -- That to paint one twofold woman was his aim. One without the other's beauty were but torso: Human needs divine, ah, yes, and -- maybe more so -- By divine is needed. (Singing down the Corso I, elate, enthralled, went, happy just to be!) . . . Yet till thee at last I knew -- each blended feature Where the two Loves meet in rightly balanced nature -- Never had I known a tithe of Titian's creature: God, the master, limner, painted both in thee. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IN PICCADILLY by ISAAC ROSENBERG THE STATUE AND THE BUST by ROBERT BROWNING SHERMAN by RICHARD WATSON GILDER A STREET SKETCH by JOSEPH ASHBY-STERRY THE SCOTTISH CHRISTMAS by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN A CHILD'S FANCY by MATHILDE BLIND SOMEBODY'S MOTHER by MARY DOW BRINE |