Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, FATA MORGANA, by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW



Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FATA MORGANA, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: O sweet illusions of song, / that tempt me everywhere
Last Line: For the vision to reappear.


O sweet illusions of song
That tempt me everywhere,
In the lonely fields, and the throng
Of the crowded thoroughfare!

I approach and ye vanish away,
I grasp you, and ye are gone;
But ever by night and by day,
The melody soundeth on.

As the weary traveller sees
In desert or prairie vast,
Blue lakes, overhung with trees
That a pleasant shadow cast;

Fair towns with turrets high,
And shining roofs of gold,
That vanish as he draws nigh,
Like mists together rolled --

So I wander and wander along,
And forever before me gleams
The shining city of song,
In the beautiful land of dreams.

But when I would enter the gate
Of that golden atmosphere,
It is gone, and I wonder and wait
For the vision to reappear.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...



Home: PoetryExplorer.net