OLD ivory and yellow lace; A landscape flushed with early day, Aurora's rouged and roguish face Reflected in the beryl bay Mid waves that blandly bow away, Green-liveried, bewigged with snow, -- We hold within a fan's display The courtly world of old Watteau. With amorous and tender grace The Triton pipes a virelay, The argent-breasted nymph we trace Through flying folds that stream astray As slyly trained to half betray, -- The ribboned flock before her go; The beach is oft a pasture-way In courtly world of old Watteau. Oh, homely world whereon we pace, Where love scarce rhymes a roundelay, Where robes conceal, and men are base, And evening skies absurdly gay, And crudely green, as sighs Boucher, Devoid of art the grasses grow, -- Roll back, and bring within to-day The courtly world of old Watteau! ENVOY. And, loveliest, thou month of May, E'en thou, supreme, wouldst fail to show From willow veil and hawthorn spray The courtly world of old Watteau. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: LAMBERT HUTCHINS by EDGAR LEE MASTERS SEVEN TWILIGHTS: 2 by CONRAD AIKEN THE SACRAL DREAMS OF RAMON FERNANDEZ by JAMES GALVIN AFTERGLOW by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON SEPARATION by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON |