Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE FESTA by GEORGE EDWARD WOODBERRY

First Line: I HAVE SEEN A VISION PURE
Last Line: THAT FAIR SCENE BY THAT FAIR SHORE.
Subject(s): SEASHORE; BEACH; COAST; SHORE;
I HAVE seen a vision pure
As is the sea's white foam,
Full of the divine allure
Of beauty in her home.

With Giovan' as I was rowing
By the lilac sea-cliff's breach,
Where the pinkish houses glowing
Cling for foothold, each o'er each,
Came a clangor of bells blowing
O'er the indigo-lipped beach,
From the fishers' low church flowing
Down the brown nets' amber reach.

Now the loud bombs quick-resounding
@3Vivas@1 to the saint declare!
How the festa is confounding, --
@3Salvos@1 to the throne of prayer!
From the sea the boys race bounding
To the booming @3strada@1 there;
Comes the long procession rounding
The @3marina@1 to the square.

Young girls, virginal and flower-like,
Each a lily in her hand,
Walk before the image tower-like,
Borne abroad to bless the land;
And round about the maidens, bower-like,
Youthful bathers sun-bright stand;
Still the salt wave, shimmering shower-like,
Beads their bodies golden-tanned.

Sweetly walked the maidens singing
White-robed, each a lily bore;
Reverent stood the fair youth ringing
That fair scene by that fair shore.



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