Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TEMPIO DI VENERE, by THOMAS STURGE MOORE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TEMPIO DI VENERE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A marble ruin nigh forgotten
Last Line: So sturdy, arch, and gay!
Alternate Author Name(s): Moore, T. Sturge
Subject(s): Marble; Naples, Italy; Ruins


A MARBLE ruin nigh forgotten
Fronts sheer on Naples' bay;
The cornice stones are weather-rotten,
Stained both by rain and spray.

The shifting mounding shore has buried
All steps save the top three,
To which small waves run up like hurried
Sly kisses of the sea.

The fluted columns crevice-jointed
Must totter every storm.
Bird-droppings have the eaves anointed,
Blunted each moulding's form.

With pavement chequer-rich sand-whitened,
Tell-tale to flaws of wind..
With walls, that once gay pictures brightened,
Blank as an old man's mind..

For fisher's painted boat 'tis stable,
Festooned with nets and cords,
Littered with dead-eyes, ends of cable,
Crab-baskets, boat-hooks, boards.

A wreckage mast, its only rafter,
Supports an old tanned sail.
Here Venus dwelt who so loved laughter;
Here now chinks flute and wail;

Here once the pirate-Pompey's seaman
Offered her shells and gold;
Here oft, flogged slave or pious leman
Complained that hearts are sold.

No more here marble limbs shall glisten,
Nor carved face smile here more,
And, bending forward half to listen,
Prompt those who mute adore.

Yet, though he call no goddess mother,
A child bathed here to-day
Who, naked, was as Cupid's brother,
So sturdy, arch, and gay!





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