Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AFTER PETRARCH, by JOSE-MARIA DE HEREDIA (1842-1905)


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AFTER PETRARCH, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Leaving the church, with gesture tender
Last Line: That from the darkness shot a star's long ray.
Subject(s): Petrarch (1304-1374); Francesco Petrarca


Leaving the church, with gesture tender, sweet,
Your noble hands throw gold unto the poor;
Your beauty brightens all the porch obscure,
And fills with Heaven's gold the dazzled street.
Saluting you, I humbly at your feet
Throw down my heart; yet you so proud and pure
Turn quick away; your veil you fast secure
In anger o'er your eyes, mine not to meet!
But love, which conquers hearts that most rebel,
Will not permit me in the gloom to dwell
The source of light to me refusing day;
You were so flow to draw the graceful shade
Of tremulous eyelash, which deep shadows made
That from the darkness shot a star's long ray.






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