Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, OLD PLEASURES DESERTED, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

OLD PLEASURES DESERTED, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Cobwebs and kisks have crept
Last Line: May-morning bright.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund


COBWEBS and kisks have crept
On what so smiled, so shone, so smiled;
Fen-gotten fogs have wept,
Rust and moth have ate and slept,
Foul-coiling growths defiled.

Morn's golden sandals lie
Slouched and unnoted; moiled in weed,
Diana's silver archery
Sails no shrill wind; Pan's maiden-reed
Is sunk to atoms grey and dry;
Those flowers that lost Persephone
Left in the sun, are shrunk to screed.

There were stones and shells
That a god brought me from a brook,
They gleamed as miracles,
They're now -- I dare not look.
By a clear green pool a kingfisher flew,
Left with me an angel's plume;
Where greybirds sang cool orchards through
I found a flute that put forth bloom.

Michael's plume, flowery flute
Were here, and thousand beauties more;
Beneath this shroud of disrepute,
These scurfs and soilings, lay rich store:
But creeping on, the shade of death
Has changed this air;
Gaspingly I take my breath.
Yet did you dare,
Through this hushed and kisky den
Find them you might,
And touch them into truth again
May-morning bright.





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