Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SPRING (2), by RACHEL ANNAND TAYLOR


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SPRING (2), by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Round the green-kindling hawthorn hill
Last Line: Girdled the glad white-flowering hill.
Subject(s): Cemeteries; Flowers; Gardens & Gardening; Spring; Temples; Graveyards; Mosques


ROUND the green-kindling hawthorn hill,
Upon the Path of Daffodil,
Before the morning star was set,
A pomp of grave Greek girls I met:
And, like the florets of the Way,
Of gleaming pearl and amber they
Were wrought. Upon their bounden hair
Pale urns of noble curve they bare.

"Oh! Whither?" said I, "Wander ye,
Most beautiful Canephori?
To what great Temple go ye up,
Cupbearers of what mystic cup?
For what sweet god has each gold head
Its dainty curls white-filleted?
What virgin pleasures do ye bring
Unto the triumph of the Spring?"

One turned her head and answered me:
"We know not what our burdens be,
Nor to what temple go we up
To pour strange wine from graven Cup;
But the young god of our desire
Shall draw our feet before they tire
To His great House of gold and white
Where all the rites are mere delight."

She spake. The frieze of daffodil,
Of mingled flowers and maidens, still
Girdled the glad white-flowering hill.





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