Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, NIGHT-BLOOMING CEREUS, by MARY DILLINGHAM FREAR


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

NIGHT-BLOOMING CEREUS, by                    
First Line: The night is fair, - too fair for us to stay
Last Line: And drained of all the glory of to-night.
Subject(s): Cactus; Night; Bedtime


The night is fair, -- too fair for us to stay
Close-curtained from the soft and radiant light.
We wander forth to breathe the sweet sea-breeze,
Where on the road the shadows of the palms
Make soundless music as we slowly pass,
By gentle swaying.
Look you, what is this?
Is this a banquet for the gods outspread
Upon this gray and lichen-covered wall?
The knotted, creeping cactus lies loose-flung
Upon the lava-stones. Upon it stand
A thousand glistening goblets, flared at brim,
Uplifted to the moon. The cups of white
Are set on scaly necks of grayish green;
And trembling in their lustrous, lip-curved bowls
Is scented gold? nay; -- amber wine? nay, nay,
'Tis rather moonlight trapped, or odor visible.

Ah, goblets rare, I know that when the light
Shall come at morn, ye shall be overturned,
And drained of all the glory of to-night.





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