THE rock bloomed lichen, orange-tawny, The sea bloomed green and fading gold, The headland arched with acres lawny And sank in dimplings manifold. Was it such flowers she gazed upon, Helen—upcaught in Paris' hands? Was it such flowers unfolding shone From buds of fire, o'er Trojan sands? For Balkis did like lovely hues Deepen the hot Arabian glow? Such changing radiance confuse Her eyes with hourly ebb and flow? Sure for delight of dreaming eyes These petals their pale splendour pour, Sea-blossoms shine, and ruddy dyes Shake in the heat-waves on the shore! Yet wanting eyes that stared and dimmed Still had the rocks their blossom flaunted And tawny lichen spreading brimmed The headland by no passion haunted. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ROBERT FROST RELATES THE DEATH OF THE TIRED MAN by LOUIS UNTERMEYER ON THE BALCONY by PAUL VERLAINE THE IDEA OF BALANCE IS TO BE FOUND IN HERONS AND LOONS by JAMES HARRISON THE MAD MAID'S SONG by ROBERT HERRICK ROSALIND'S MADRIGAL, FR. ROSALIND [ROSALYNDE] by THOMAS LODGE WAR DEAD by PATRICK JOHN MCALISTER ANDERSON |