Once was my name as fire, and once my wine Flushed in the veins of youth, and once the strong, The wise, the lyric, leaped beneath my thong Of love and hailed me human and divine! Mine was the world's confessed desire and mine The echoing thunder of the seas of song, Priests, virgins, youths -- a florid, sumptuous throng -- Gave me luxurious service at my shrine! Now tho', bereft, I seem perchance as one Smothered in night whose memory keeps the flush, The fire and huge transcendence of the sun, Still, in the apostate world, my fight I know Is won, and still the lips of manhood crush, And still the pained blood throbs thro' limbs of snow! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CLEAR AND COLDER; BOSTON COMMON by ROBERT FROST SUNSET by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON THE GIFT TO SING by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON MOTHER JUNKIE by CLARENCE MAJOR ADELAIDE AND JOHN WILKES BOOTH by EDGAR LEE MASTERS |