Classic and Contemporary Poetry
MORPHEUS, by PAUL FORT First Line: Through lyric summers gay, when sunlight floods the air, while lush Last Line: And stars in myriads buzz beneath the heaven's blue hive. Subject(s): Mythology; Mythology - Classical; Pan (mythology) | ||||||||
Through lyric summers gay, when sunlight floods the air, while lush and verdant grass makes all the world more fair, swift gods and agile nymphs, in lovely multitude, speed o'er the plains, by the swarm of their golden hair pursued. On their shoulders, azure drones of snoring ease partake. The ladybirds clasp flowers about their calves and thighs. At the rosy breasts of nymphs great yellow butterflies palpitate; and their heels trail scarabs in their wake. Poised on the flank of hills, where silver sunlight pours, brown oreads emerge from temples white and small. Dryads, the light of groves, come trooping, one and all, slipping their naked forms through blue, arboreal doors. With May and roses crowned, or rushes from the weir, to the tawny arms of fauns the nymphs their waists resign. "Raise like a dawn your arms through the troubled atmosphere, Eunice, Aeglea, Nais, Eione, Proserpine." Beneath the wheat unveil your suppleness, Phrixa! Pan follows you, both horns burning with solar fire. The frou-frou of your course through murmurous grass, Phrixa, has wakened in his heart full many a fell desire. And thou, Pan, lithe and dark, fleet god, in mid-pursuit, bend down, on the bluets snuff the print of a lovely foot, pluck at a heel, entire the vermeil blossom pull. Thanks to your heat the wheat unfolds in baskets-full. Sudden, what frantic nymphs seek the horizon's rim, what sprites dissolved in dew back to their fountains flee! Lo, Morpheus comes, thick-veiled in shadowy gauzes dim. Each dryad, terror-struck, takes refuge in her tree. Swiftly the scrambling fauns attain the craggy height. Like will-o'-the wisps their horns efface each shining speck. Morpheus, god of shades, comes from the dawn in flight. The hot fist of the sun brandished above his neck. With summer's heady tufts his nostrils over-full, he staggers, Morpheus, the god with feet of wool! Drunken with heated air himself the god assails, rending, with out-stretched arm, his dimly shimmering veils. In softest shade the grass his drowsy form doth fold. He sprawls along the grass regarding stainless skies. Zenithed Apollo plumbs the pupils of his eyes. He falls. His aqueous eyes smoke under lids of gold. Still Morpheus, proud-necked, defies the sunlight's force, and towards that orb, whose fires with frenzied poppies swarm, upheaves a streaming breast where silver planets course. . . . Infinite azure, now, is mirrored in his form. But soon, his ruddy hair, alluring many a bee, a bed of murmur soothes his flaming countenance. Swollen with veins, his fists relax upon his paunch. And on warm turf I hear a snoring deity. But hark! With sounding horn Diana is awake! High o'er the forest's verge she calls her greyhounds fleet, the color of the moon, in many a dim retreat scaring the stags deep-couched in berry-scented brake. From summer nights the god doth greatest pomp derive. Morpheus mounts superb amid fresh verdure's scent. Shaking his locks, with bees he fills the firmament. And stars in myriads buzz beneath the heaven's blue hive. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING THE DEAD PAN by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING CHANSON INNOCENTE: 1, FR. TULIPS by EDWARD ESTLIN CUMMINGS HYMN OF PAN by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY PAN'S PIPING by ALCAEUS OF MESSENE IDYLL 3. THE TEACHER TAUGHT by BION THE DAIRYMAIDS TO PAN by GORDON BOTTOMLEY PAN IN PANDEMONIUM by BERTON BRALEY PAN AND LUNA by ROBERT BROWNING A PORTFOLIO OF SKETCHES: THE LITTLE ANNUITANT by PAUL FORT |
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