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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BY THE ARNO, by OSCAR WILDE Poet's Biography
First Line: The oleander on the wall
Last Line: Or if the nightingale should die.
Alternate Author Name(s): Finga, O'flahertie Wills
Subject(s): Arno River, Italy; Florence, Italy; Rivers
First Line: The oleander on the wall
Last Line: Or if the nightingale should die.
Alternate Author Name(s): Finga, O'flahertie Wills
Subject(s): Arno River, Italy; Florence, Italy; Rivers
THE oleander on the wall
Grows crimson in the dawning light,
Though the grey shadows of the night
Lie yet on Florence like a pall.
The dew is bright upon the hill,
And bright the blossoms overhead,
But ah! the grasshoppers have fled,
The little Attic song is still.
Only the leaves are gently stirred
By the soft breathing of the gale,
And in the almond-scented vale
The lonely nightingale is heard.
The day will make thee silent soon,
O nightingale sing on for love!
While yet upon the shadowy grove
Splinter the arrows of the moon.
Before across the silent lawn
In sea-green mist the morning steals,
And to love's frightened eyes reveals
The long white fingers of the dawn
Fast climbing up the eastern sky
To grasp and slay the shuddering night,
All careless of my heart's delight,
Or if the nightingale should die.
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