Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PUZZLEMENT, by HERMAN MELVILLE


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PUZZLEMENT, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: A crescent brow - aquiver thrown
Last Line: Such impudence of sweet persiflage!
Subject(s): Artemis; Mythology - Classical; Ruins; Statues


AS TO A FIGURE LEFT SOLITARY ON A UNIQUE FRAGMENT OF GREEK BASSO-RILIEVO

A crescent brow -- a quiver thrown
Behind the shoulder. A huntress, own.
It needs be Artemis. But, nay,
It breathes too much of Eve's sweet way,
And Artemis is high, austere,
Chill as her morn, a goddess mere.

She bends, and with one backward hand
Adjusts her buskin light,
The sidelong face upturned -- how arch!
Sure, somebody meets her sight.

But never virgin on another
Virgin, or approaching brother
Turned a look like that, I wis.
Profane, if meant for Artemis!
Why, could one but piece out the stone --
Complete restore its primal state,
Some handsome fellow would be shown,
Some Lover she would fascinate
By that arch look. --
Nay -- can it be?
Again methinks 't is Artemis.
Rogue of a Greek! and is it she?
Show'st thou the goddess, human yet --
The austere Artemis a coquette?
If so in sooth, some latter age
In faith's decay begot thine art --
Such impudence of sweet persiflage!





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