Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, IN ANDELYS: ON THE BANK OF THE SEINE: 5, by PAUL FORT



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

IN ANDELYS: ON THE BANK OF THE SEINE: 5, by                    
First Line: A heaven confused pours forth these feeble twilight glows. Fairer
Last Line: River slow that lulls great, golden nenuphars.
Subject(s): Dreams; Heaven; Love; Seine (river), France; Nightmares; Paradise


A heaven confused pours forth these feeble twilight glows. Fairer than clearest
sky the fleecy clouds appear; this eve the glimmering sun like suavest moonlight
shows, and Earth's conglomerate sweet is wholly gathered here.

The breeze, that softer grows in evening vapours cold, with calm and tender love
upon the reeds doth weigh. The cloud, agape for dreams, allows one to behold
that planet which itself forgets, forgets the day.

I tread a river's brim whence, as in dream, I see the image of the sun, whose
halo, silver-lit, swims through the rushes green and slowly follows me, while
murmurous clouds of gnats are dancing over it.

Farewell, sun, too prone to dream in the river's dark abyss. -- From nenuphars
arise these hues of gold and milk diffusing furtive gleams like undulating silk.
Of flowers that drown themselves how brief the splendour is!

Restored, with fall of night, to the shapes in motion there, the far shore,
vaporous sea, your billows have immersed. Pursuing banks of fog across the river
fare. Of the bridge I only see a single span, the first.

Soul astray, shall I go to dream, 'mid mists profound and wan, of a bridge to
guide my steps to Heaven's resplendent height, or of the Stream that falls into
eternal Night? What dreaming, still to dream if all the world is gone!

Poesy, poesy, when sleep the world assails and there is no more moon and there
are no more stars, you watch my soul that glides, ample, bereft of veils, a
river slow that lulls great, golden nenuphars.





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