Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SAINT SEBASTIAN, by VALERY YAKOVLEVICH BRYUSOV


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SAINT SEBASTIAN, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: On slow and smoky fire thou burn'st and art consumed
Last Line: To kiss thy mouth?
Alternate Author Name(s): Brusov, Valery Yakovlevich
Subject(s): Angels; Heaven; Sebastian, Saint (d. 288); Paradise


On slow and smoky fire thou burn'st and art consuméd,
Oh, thou, my soul.
On slow and smoky fire thou burn'st and art consuméd,
With hidden dole.

Thou droopest like Sebastian, pierced with pointed arrows,
Harassed and spent,
Thou droopest like Sebastian, pierced with pointed arrows,
Thy flesh all rent.

Thy foes encircle thee and watch with gleeful laughter
And bended bow,
Thy foes encircle thee and watch with gleeful laughter
Thy torments slow.

The embers burn, and gentle is the arrow's stinging,
'Neath the evening sky,
The embers burn, and gentle is the arrow's stinging,
When the end draws nigh.

Why hastens not thy dream unto thy lips, now pallid
With deadly drouth?
Why hastens not thy dream unto thy lips, now pallid
To kiss thy mouth?





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