HAVE you heard of Santa Rita? Patron of the hopeless, she; Fleeting dreams of pleasure fleeter Under her protection be; Idle wish and aspiration, Fruitless hope and gray despair, Crave alike her mediation, -- Santa Rita! hear my prayer Long have I, with ardor leal, Sought the maiden of my dreams, Chasing still my bright ideal, Like a marsh-light's taunting gleams. Candles sweet and incense sweeter Do I vow thee, week by week, -- Give me, lovely Santa Rita! The ideal girl I seek. Rich fair eyes, like summer twilight Ere the stars glint through the blue, Beaming with a soft and shy light, Hiding summer lightnings too; Rich brown hair in wayward cluster, Rippling down in heavy fold, Giving in the sunset's lustre Here and there a gleam of gold; Fair, sweet face, whose quick expression Mirrors well the thoughts that flit, -- Soft now with love's shy confession, Brightened now by fire of wit; Fair, sweet nature, were I bolder To dispel the doubts that spring, I would touch her angel shoulder, Just to feel the budding wing! Silver voice to charm and fill me With an ecstasy of sound; Springing, buoyant step to thrill me In the waltz's dazing round; Mind as bright as rainbow's prism, Wit as keen as archer's dart, And, to work the mechanism, Just a little mite of heart. This my longing, Santa Rita! This the girl for whom I wait. Tell me, tell me, shall I meet her Ere I die disconsolate? Are my dreams but idle fancy? Lives there such a maiden rare? I invoke thy necromancy, -- Santa Rita! hear my prayer! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MOTHER (MARGERY CARRUTH, 1896-1981) by HAYDEN CARRUTH THE OLD VICARAGE, GRANTCHESTER by RUPERT BROOKE A GAGE D'AMOUR by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON CLEOMENS, OR THE SPARTAN HERO: SONG by JOHN DRYDEN DO YOU FEAR THE WIND? by HAMLIN GARLAND THE OLD MAN AND JIM by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY VALENTINES TO MY MOTHER: 1885 by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI |