MOMENTS there are that loom up from the past Tarnished yet beautiful; we deemed them dead, Their old-time witchery for ever fled; Not so; for of a sudden, all unasked, Lo, they return to rule our souls at last; So fresh, so fair, they almost seem to shed A lovelier light than in the years long sped, Weaving a wonder that is unsurpassed: Proud vistaed arches, gleams of broken stone, Columns superb, blithe statues buried deep Until exhumed from immemorial sleep To be beloved as our household own: Like Paestum's temple, tranced beside the sea, Radiant with dreams and ancient ecstasy. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON THE DAY OF THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM BY TITUS by GEORGE GORDON BYRON CHURCH MONUMENTS by GEORGE HERBERT A BABY ASLEEP AFTER PAIN by DAVID HERBERT LAWRENCE OLD KING COLE by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON A RHYME by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE |