Classic and Contemporary Poetry
CORE, by DIGBY MACKWORTH DOLBEN Poet's Biography First Line: Where in dawnward sicily Last Line: Since he loved me -- he is dead. Alternate Author Name(s): Dolben, Digby Augustus Stewart Mackworth | ||||||||
WHERE in dawnward Sicily Gentle rivers wed the sea, Bitter life was given me. Gods that are most desolate For their loveliness and state Being made the mock of fate, Mingling wine with ruddy fire And the passion of the lyre, Filled my veins with all desire. Twain the robes they fashioned me, Dainty, delicate to see, Girt about with mockery: Dowers twain for me they planned, Holding in their other hand All my times, an hour's sand; -- Love, the mystic rose of life, Grafted with a sanguine knife On the thorns of sin and strife; Poetry, the hand that wrings (Bruised albeit at the strings) Music from the soul of things. But to either gift a mate Added they in subtle hate -- This the trick they learned of Fate; -- Shame, to draw the tender blood From the palm of maidenhood, Leaving it a yellow rod; Weariness of all that is, Tired sorrow, tired bliss, Nothing is more sore than this. Therefore turn thy eyes on me, O Thou Praise of Sicily, Honey-sweet Persephone, Who, beyond all ban and bale, With supreme compassion pale, Spreadest quiet for a veil. In the soft Catanian hills, Gleaming by the gleaming rills Yet are blown thy daffodils; See, I bear them as is meet, Lay them on thy pallid feet, Where in marble thou art sweet. Hear the story of my wrong, Thou to whom all perished song And departed loves belong. Even as the maiden grass, Recreating all that pass, Mine exceeding beauty was. Men, who heard me singing, said 'Bays are heavy on thy head; 'Take a myrtle leaf instead'. 'How shall Eros' call be still' -- Ever answered I -- 'until 'Anteros the song fulfil?' Once at vesper-tide I sat In a bower of pomegranate, Where it was my use to wait, Till the hour of phantasies Bade my soul's desire arise Veiled, against the blinded skies: But unveiled he came to me, With the passion of the sea, That night, by the scarlet tree. Lightly from the boat he leapt; Snowy surge the shingle swept; Whiter were his feet that stepped Up the jewelled beach; -- and on As a pillared flame he shone, Clear, and glad to look upon. Was he one whom years alloy Or the god of ageless joy, Dionysos, or a boy? Never was such hair, I wist, Lighted as a water-mist, In the noons of amethyst; -- Eyes, of colour only seen Where the far waves' palest green Faints into the azure sheen. There his eyes were full on me With the passion of the sea, That night, by the scarlet tree. 'Lily of the amber west, 'Whither over ocean's breast 'Suns and heroes drop to rest, 'From the morning lands I come, 'Laughing through the laughing foam, 'Seeking Love in Vesper's home. 'Sudden as the falling star, 'Winged as the victor car, 'Nears the doom to blight and mar. 'Full desire, and faint delight, 'Words that leap, and lips that bite 'With the panther lithe and light, -- 'These -- while blushes bud and blow, 'While life's purple torrents flow -- 'If we know not, shall we know? 'Are they hid beyond the hours? 'Shall they feed on lotus-flowers? 'Warm us in the sunless bowers? 'Thou art beautiful, and I 'Beautiful; I know not why, 'Save to love before we die.' But a day -- a year is sped Since these words were sung or said, Since he loved me -- he is dead. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A POEM WITHOUT A NAME: 1 by DIGBY MACKWORTH DOLBEN A POEM WITHOUT A NAME: 2 by DIGBY MACKWORTH DOLBEN A PRAYER by DIGBY MACKWORTH DOLBEN A SEA SONG by DIGBY MACKWORTH DOLBEN A SONG OF EIGHTEEN by DIGBY MACKWORTH DOLBEN AFTER READING AESCHYLUS by DIGBY MACKWORTH DOLBEN AFTER READING HOMER by DIGBY MACKWORTH DOLBEN ANACREONTIC by DIGBY MACKWORTH DOLBEN BEYOND by DIGBY MACKWORTH DOLBEN BREVI TEMPORE MAGNUM PERFECIT OPUS by DIGBY MACKWORTH DOLBEN DUM AGONIZATUR ANIMA, ORENT ASSISTENTES; FRAGMENT by DIGBY MACKWORTH DOLBEN |
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