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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


HYLAS by LOUIS ALEXANDER MACKAY

First Line: BETWEEN THE BLUE THAT BURNED THE SWIMMING BAY
Last Line: SANK THROUGH THE STILL BRIGHT WATER QUIETLY.

Between the blue that burned the swimming bay
And the green welter of the tangled land,
Nosing blood-browed against the grating sand,
The tarred bulk of the mighty Argo lay.
But the tall young Theban thrust his idle way
Through the tough thickets with brown arrogant hand
To where the little river seemed to stand
Dozing, beneath the dead mid-swing of day.
And saw, there kneeling by the shining stream
Through the still depth white slender bodies rise:
On his strong wrist cool fingers wrapt unseen;
Unfathomably in blue quiet eyes
His soul drew down, and he as in a dream
Sank through the still bright water quietly.



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