Two demons thrust their arms out over the world, Hell with a ruddy torch of fire, And Hate with gasping mouth, Striving to seize two children fair Who play'd on the upper curve of the Earth. Their shapes were vast as the thoughts of man, But the Earth was small As the moon's rim appeareth Scann'd through an optic glass. The younger child stood erect on the Earth As a charioteer in a car Or a dancer with arm upraised; Her whole form -- barely clad From feet to golden head -- Leapt brightly against the uttermost azure, Whereon the stars were splashes of light dazed in the gulfing beds of space. The elder might have been stell'd to show The lady who led my boyish love; But her face was graver than e'er to me When I look'd in her eyes long ago, And the hair on her shoulders fal'n Nested its luminous brown I' the downy spring of her wings: Her figure aneath was screen'd by the Earth, Whereoff -- so small that was No footing for her could be -- She appeared to be sailing free I' the glide and poise of her flight. Then knew I the Angel Faith, Who was guarding human Love. Happy were both, of peaceful mien, Contented as mankind longeth to be, Not merry as children are; And show'd no fear of the Fiends' pursuit, As ever those demons clutched in vain; And I, who had fear'd awhile to see Such gentleness in such jeapardy, Lost fear myself; for I saw the foes Were slipping aback and had no hold On the round Earth that sped its course. The painted figures never could move, But the artist's mind was there: The longer I look'd the more I knew They were falling, falling away below To the darkness out of sight. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...JUNE (1) by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT THE TEMPEST: PROLOGUE by JOHN DRYDEN THE ROAST BEEF OF OLD ENGLAND by HENRY FIELDING IN HARBOR by PAUL HAMILTON HAYNE ELIOT'S OAK; SONNET by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW |