White roses set in ivory urns, White violets wreathed in silver cups; White marble founts whose moss and ferns, The shadow of the moon drink up. Since I have known you and your ways, Things such as these are my delights. A whiteness glimmers on my days, A whiteness hovers o'er my nights. White dews, white crescent moons, white dawns, White flickering feet, white-gleaming hands, White limbs that dream on twilight lawns, White limbs that dance on shimmering sands. O child, O maiden-acolyte, Whose censer breathes such silvery breath, Pour wine white as the flesh of Christ Upon the altar of white death! Then all red things shall fade away -- Red flame, red roses, and red blood, And we shall voyage night and day The white sea of the tears of God. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TRANSFORMATION by CARL SANDBURG THE STRAPLESS by KAREN SWENSON ON THE ROAD TO CHORRERA by ARLO BATES A CELEBRATION OF CHARIS: 5. HIS DISCOURSE WITH CUPID by BEN JONSON PRAYERS OF STEEL by CARL SANDBURG |