Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE FOUNTAIN OF TREVI, by BAYARD TAYLOR


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE FOUNTAIN OF TREVI, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The coliseum lifts at night
Last Line: Their silver in the roman air.
Alternate Author Name(s): Taylor, James Bayard
Subject(s): Trevi Fountain, Rome


THE Coliseum lifts at night
Its broken cells more proudly far
Than in the noonday's naked light,
For every rent enshrines a star:
On Caesar's hill the royal Lar
Presides within his mansion old:
Decay and Death no longer mar
The moon's atoning mist of gold.

Still lingering near the shrines renewed,
We sadly, fondly, look our last;
Each trace concealed of spoilage rude
From old or late iconoclast,
Till, Trajan's whispering forum passed,
We hear the waters, showering bright,
Of Trevi's ancient fountain, cast
Their woven music on the night.

The Genius of the Tiber nods
Benign, above his tilted urn;
Kneel down and drink! the beckoning gods
This last libation will not spurn.
Drink, and the old enchantment learn
That hovers yet o'er Trevi's foam, --
The promise of a sure return,
Fresh footsteps in the dust of Rome!

Kneel down and drink! the golden days
Here lived and dreamed, shall dawn again:
Albano's hill, through purple haze,
Again shall crown the Latin plain.
Whatever stains of Time remain,
Left by the years that intervene,
Lo! Trevi's fount shall toss its rain
To wash the pilgrim's forehead clean.

Drink, and depart! for Life is just:
She gives to Faith a master-key
To ope the gate of dreams august,
And take from joys in memory
The certainty of joys to be:
And Trevi's basins shall be bare
Ere we again shall fail to see
Their silver in the Roman air.





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