COUCH thy dew'd head, Naiad, amid the long Thick-tangling warm wet grasses. In slow confus'd procession passes The shadow of time, As in bright harness up and down the sky Trampling the clouds the sun flaunts by, A peacock with vain tenting plumes tossed high, Such hues as mortal women love, to shroud Their mortal shape quick fading, Such hues thou need'st not nor the braiding Of gem-prick'd ribands in thy hair. Naiad, thy breast Sunk in the grass, thy half-seen pale limbs prest Where shadows tremble, thy head where shadows rest— Naiad, these are of dreams the startled bliss, Of dreams the sharp bliss, chilling Proud fevers, the quick blood's furies stilling; Of dreams the whispering bliss. ... Now the idle wind awakes, The nodding hemp's rich purple shakes Her sweet upon thy sense, and the shadow breaks Around thy head; thy head lifts slowly, musing Thine eyes averted. Keep so thy look averted, Lest seeing mine thou plunge in the cavern'd deep. When the dusk darkens, slide Soundless thy young-moon-body in the tide, Vainly thy silver'd shape among reedy shoals to hide. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE EVE OF ST. AGNES by JOHN KEATS THE SHEPHEARDES CALENDER: MAY by EDMUND SPENSER LINES WRITTEN IN SWITZERLAND by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES IDYLL 3. THE TEACHER TAUGHT by BION INHERITANCE by ANNA HEMPSTEAD BRANCH THE GOD OF NOON by IVAN ALEKSEYEVITCH (ALEXEYVICH) BUNIN |