Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, FLORENTINE MAY, by AGNES MARY F. ROBINSON



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FLORENTINE MAY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Still, still is the night; still as the pause after pain
Last Line: Only the night can know.
Alternate Author Name(s): Duclaux, Madame Emile; Darmesteter, Mary; Robinson, A. Mary F.
Subject(s): Florence, Italy; Night; Bedtime


STILL, still is the Night; still as the pause after pain;
Still and as dear;
Deep, solemn, immense; veiling the stars in the clear
Thrilling and luminous blue of the moon-shot atmosphere;
Ah, could the Night remain!

Who, truly, shall say thou art sullen or dark or unseen,
Thou, O heavenly Night,
Clear o'er the valley of olives asleep in the quivering light,
Clear o'er the pale-red hedge of the rose, and the lilies all white
Down at my feet in the green?

Nay, not as the Day, thou art light, O Night, with a beam
Far more dear and divine;
Never the noon was blue as these tremulous heavens or thine,
Pulsing with stars half seen, and vague in a pallid shine,
Vague as a dream.

Night, clear with the moon, filled with the dreamy fire
Shining in thicket and close,
Fire from the lamp in his breast that the luminous firefly throws;
Night, full of wandering light and of song, and the blossoming rose,
Night, be thou my desire!

Night, Angel of Night, hold me and cover me so --
Open thy wings!
Ah, bend above and embrace! -- till I hear in the one bird that sings
The throb of thy musical heart in the dusk, and the magical things
Only the Night can know.





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