Classic and Contemporary Poetry
MOON-FLOWERS, by PATRICK REGINALD CHALMERS First Line: The moon-flowers, the moon-flowers, to sleepy splash of fountains Last Line: You've first to face the twilight and watch the moon-flowers blow! Subject(s): Fairies; Fantasy; Elves | ||||||||
THE moon-flowers, the moon-flowers, to sleepy splash of fountains They opengrey and silverwhen the stars come overhead, And if you'd go to Fairyland and find the Peacock Mountains You've got to pick the moon-flowers before you go to bed. Oh, would you go to Nineveh of ancient pomps and palaces, Or see the towers of Ascalon lift spire on aching spire, Or sup with Montezumasgolden plate and jewelled chalices Or dip your pocket-handkerchief in purple vats of Tyre? Would you sail, a swart Phoenician, On a buccaneering mission (Dig and drive and swing of oar-blades as the plunging triremes go!) Till the sea-rim gives the highlands Of the fern-fringed Happy Islands? Ah, you've first to see the moon-flowers blow! You've missed the Peacock Mountains through the pearl-pink sea-fog shimmering, The turkis-blue and opal that they bind about their brows; You've missed the magic moorings where the flying fish go glimmering And painted dolphins leaping in the tide-rip round the bows; For the bit of wedding-cake, you Said was certain sure to take you, Never got you any further on the road that you should go To the sapphire peaks and gorges Than St. Peter's or St. George's, And you'd never heard of moon-flowersNo! The moon-flowers, the moon-flowers, when first the twilight changes, They opengrey and silveras the stars come out a-row, So if you'd go to Fairyland and see the Peacock ranges, You've first to face the twilight and watch the moon-flowers blow! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE FAERY FOREST by SARA TEASDALE THE LAND OF HEART'S DESIRE by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS THE FAIRIES by WILLIAM ALLINGHAM THE FAIRY CHILD by JOHN ANSTER THE FORSAKEN MERMAN by MATTHEW ARNOLD THE LITTLE ELF-MAN by JOHN KENDRICK BANGS TAM O' SHANTER by ROBERT BURNS A BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 19. THE FAIRY QUEEN PROSERPINA by THOMAS CAMPION A PROPER NEW BALLAD [ENTITLED THE FAIRIES' FAREWELL] by RICHARD CORBET A BLACK-LETTER STORY-BOOK by PATRICK REGINALD CHALMERS |
|