Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE ORCHARD PIT, by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Piled deep below the screening apple branch Last Line: And that the same last eddy swallows up. Alternate Author Name(s): Rossetti, Gabriel Charles Dante Subject(s): Love | ||||||||
Piled deep below the screening apple branch They lie with bitter apples in their hands: And some are only ancient bones that blanch, And some had ships that last year's wind did launch, And some were yesterday the lords of lands. In the soft dell, among the apple trees, High up above the hidden pit she stands, And there forever sings, who gave to these, That lie below, her magic hour of ease, And those her apples holden in their hands. This in my dreams is shown me; and her hair Crosses my lips and draws my burning breath; Her song spreads golden wings upon the air, Life's eyes are gleaming from her forehead fair, And from her breasts the ravishing eyes of Death. Men say to me that sleep hath many dreams, Yet I know never but this dream alone: There, from a dried-up channel, once the stream's, The glen slopes up; even such in sleep it seems As to my waking sight the place well known. My love I call her, and she loves me well: But I love her as in the maelstrom's cup The whirled stone loves the leaf inseparable That clings to it round all the circling swell, And that the same last eddy swallows up. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE INVENTION OF LOVE by MATTHEA HARVEY TWO VIEWS OF BUSON by ROBERT HASS A LOVE FOR FOUR VOICES: HOMAGE TO FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN by ANTHONY HECHT AN OFFERING FOR PATRICIA by ANTHONY HECHT LATE AFTERNOON: THE ONSLAUGHT OF LOVE by ANTHONY HECHT A SWEETENING ALL AROUND ME AS IT FALLS by JANE HIRSHFIELD FOUND' (FOR A PICTURE) by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI |
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