Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, IDYLL, by CHARLES V. H. ROBERTS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

IDYLL, by                    
First Line: Sweet hour of night, within thy solitude
Last Line: From o'er the waves of future heritages.
Subject(s): Dreams; Love; Passion; Nightmares


Sweet hour of Night, within thy solitude—
Thy wandering sleep and silent course advanced
In realms occult—and overruling power,
I met a woman, angel pure and like
A dove in tint and melody, her wings
Unfolded on nocturnal sands—through air allured
To solitary caves and darker woods.

We strolled a-near a cool rillet—background
A garden kiosk canopied in flowers,
'Twixt grottoes dimly glittering with a shelly floor.
The Night's eclipse of phantoms, dreams, and rest
Was stirred and lit in mystic parts by touch
Of stars and lidless eyes of moon. The silver
Stream laughed out aloud—then played a song
Keyed high upon such rippling undercurrents,
As waked the fairies from the bank and glen.

Our thoughts were written on the velvet sheen,
And through the fringes of the forest shone
An after-glow which crept to vibrant harmonies.
O'er-hanging shadows, silent, vast and fragrant
With perfumes, wafted strangely near, in half-awed
Dreamy moods, 'mid tangled vines and brush:
Above the shooting stars and destined spheres
Were strayed in limitless oblivion.

Carelessly we kissed with soft caress,
Our spirits gliding from tranquility,
While round us weaved a thousand gentle forms,
In binding chains of complex passions rife.

The dance of twin lights from intensest eyes,
A thought suppressed—then mingling of the breath,
Glowing and glowing, and closer and still more close—
All visions lost to me in Happiness.
Night's silver canopy of clouds unrolled,
Shredded and flown adown to tree tops high;
Then whispered Love along the fretted shore,
From o'er the waves of future heritages.





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