Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ON SEEING THE NEW MOON: PALINODE, by CHARLES WILLIAMS Poet's Biography First Line: I looked at the young and silver moon to-night Last Line: The windows shall all be wide and thou be adored. Subject(s): Goddesses & Gods; Mythology | ||||||||
I LOOKED at the young and silver moon to-night Sitting in heaven alone; at a meet space In golden agitation Hesperus shone: Nothing between those gods and me but air. Much was my grief to remember I oft made light Of ancient, lovely, credulous tales; the grace Of the whole world approaching divinity; the unknown Savour of holy ritual everywhere. Wise (and I should have known it) were they who said: It is unlucky to see the new moon through glass, Procul, O procul este, profani! who dares to gaze On thee from the shelter of windows, O lonely, O fair? On the farthest reach of the soul is thy influence shed; And in thee the comforts of busy worlds that pass Behold a remote far gleam upon virginal ways, Behold thee, a goddess, a huntress, arrowed and bare. By streams, or on the high hills, or in windy brakes Of the woods shall thy maids or those who love thee sing; Or at worst, in the streets of the town, to the open sky, Their casements be opened and their entreaties poured. Therefore, Divinity, now will I bring thee cakes Broken at cross-roads, and this verse I bring, And an oath that in time to come if this moon go by The windows shall all be wide and thou be adored. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BEDTIME READING FOR THE UNBORN CHILD by KHALED MATTAWA EAST OF CARTHAGE: AN IDYLL by KHALED MATTAWA SEVEN TWILIGHTS: 7 by CONRAD AIKEN VICARIOUS ATONEMENT by RICHARD ALDINGTON NOTHING ABOUT THE MOMENT by LUCILLE CLIFTON VENUS IN A GARDEN by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON AN OFFERING FOR TARA by GARY SNYDER FOR A CHILD: 1. WALKING SONG by CHARLES WILLIAMS TO MICHAL: SONNETS AFTER MARRIAGE: 8. AFTER RONSARD by CHARLES WILLIAMS |
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