THE crescent moon, with pallid glow, Swept backward like a bended bow: Across, a shaft of phantom light Thrilled, like an arrow winged for flight. Just when that flickering shaft was aimed Venus in mellow radiance flamed, Unmindful of the treacherous dart Which seemed upreared to pierce her heart; For, fain to smite her through and through, Dian lay ambushed in the blue: Half veiled from sight, still, still below, She aimed her shaft, she clasped her bow. For ever thus, since time was born, Cold virtue points @3her@1 shaft of scorn At passionate love, in whose warm beam Her own but seems a crescent dream. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE TENTH MUSE: THE VANITY OF ALL WORLDLY THINGS by ANNE BRADSTREET A DEATH IN THE DESERT by ROBERT BROWNING DOROTHY'S DOWER by PHOEBE CARY PARADISI GLORIA by THOMAS WILLIAM PARSONS THE TRANSLATION by MARK VAN DOREN TO AN ISLE IN THE WATER by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS |