The night is fair, -- too fair for us to stay Close-curtained from the soft and radiant light. We wander forth to breathe the sweet sea-breeze, Where on the road the shadows of the palms Make soundless music as we slowly pass, By gentle swaying. Look you, what is this? Is this a banquet for the gods outspread Upon this gray and lichen-covered wall? The knotted, creeping cactus lies loose-flung Upon the lava-stones. Upon it stand A thousand glistening goblets, flared at brim, Uplifted to the moon. The cups of white Are set on scaly necks of grayish green; And trembling in their lustrous, lip-curved bowls Is scented gold? nay; -- amber wine? nay, nay, 'Tis rather moonlight trapped, or odor visible. Ah, goblets rare, I know that when the light Shall come at morn, ye shall be overturned, And drained of all the glory of to-night. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE OL' TUNES by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR SONNET: 20. A FAREWELL by PHILIP SIDNEY TO A THESAURUS by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS DAVIDS ELEGIE UPON JONATHAN by JOSEPH BEAUMONT PSALM 140 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE DEMON by ALEXANDER (ALEKSANDR) ALEXANDROVICH BLOK |