SEE, already over the earth The Sun lights up his four-horsed team; His flames put the stars to flight from the sky Into holy night. Parnassus' untrodden mountain-peaks Are lit with his fires, and welcome for men The chariot-wheels of day. Smoke of rainless frankincense Spreads over Apollo's roof; The Delphian woman is taking her seat On the holy tripod and sings to the Greeks The dooms that ring from Apollo. Come, Apollo's Delphian servants, Come to Castalia's whirling waters Silver-shining. Wash yourselves In the pure spring and come to the shrine. Seal your lips in reverent silence; To all who would question the oracle Nothing unseal But holy words from your lips. And I, who from my childhood's days Have done this task, will sanctify With laurel branches and holy crowns Apollo's doorway and cleanse the floor With splash of water. Flocks of birds, Who spoil the sacred offerings, My bow and arrow shall put to flight. For, since I have neither mother nor father, I give my service To Apollo's house which has nursed me. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON THE DEPARTURE PLATFORM by THOMAS HARDY BOSTON COMMON: 1774 by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES OUR BROTHER'S KEEPER by W. H. ANDERSON THE TRIUMPHS OF THY CONQUERING POWER by WILLIAM HILEY BATHURST GRIEF WAS SENT THEE FOR THY GOOD by THOMAS HAYNES BAYLY ON THE WATERFRONT by WILLIAM ROSE BENET PSALM 42 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE THE CHILD'S GRAVE by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN THE LOVE SONNETS OF PROTEUS: 40. FAREWELL TO JULIET (2) by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT |