Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE SPRING, by CHARLES MARIE RENE LECONTE DE LISLE



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE SPRING, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A spring up-sparkles in the silent forest
Last Line: Light of the soul, o beauty!
Subject(s): Beauty; Spring


A SPRING up-sparkles in the silent forest,
Far hid from blazing noon.
There rushes quiver, and fain of its cool boon,
Bluebells and violets hover.

Not goats that crop the bitter-bladed grasses
On hilly slopes hard by,
Nor shepherds with their flute's suave melody,
Have sullied that clear fountain.

The tall black oaks by all the bees belovéd,
Throw peaceful curtains wide
Wherein the wild doves lurk or, drowsy, hide
Their heads beneath their feathers.

The dawdling stags beside the mossy thickets
Draw in the unhastened dew;
Under green canopies the light drips through,
The lazy sylvans slumber.

And the wan Naiad of the sacred fountain
Lets fall her lids awhile,
Dreaming, half-drowséd; and a happy smile
Flits round her mouth's red flower.

No yearning eye, love-lit, hath seen that body
Beneath its limpid veil
All snowy white, with long locks liquid-frail,
Asleep on the sand's silver.

And none hath seen that cheek of maiden softness,
The ivory neck, the line
Of that young bosom or the shoulder fine,
White arms and lips unsullied.

But the lewd faun, alert on the near branches,
Spies through the leafy net
Her supple body with spilt kisses wet,
Beneath the water shining.

Thereon he laughs with strident joy inhuman
That thrills the arbour cool;
And the maid startled, pallid o'er her pool,
Wanes out like a blown shadow.

Ev'n as the Naiad in the distant woodland
Asleep beneath the tide,
Fly from the impious hand and eye, and hide
Light of the soul, O Beauty!





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