Down the strait vistas where a city street Fades in pale dust and vaporous distances, Stained with far fumes the light grows less and less And the sky reddens round the day's retreat. Now out of orient chambers, cool and sweet, Like Nature's pure lustration, Dusk comes down. Now the lamps brighten and the quickening town Rings with the trample of returning feet. And Pleasure, risen from her own warm mould Sunk all the drowsy and unloved daylight In layers of odorous softness, Paphian girls Cover with gauze, with satin, and with pearls, Crown, and about her spangly vestments fold The ermine of the empire of the Night. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LOVE IN THE WINDS by RICHARD HOVEY THE TUFT OF KELP by HERMAN MELVILLE EPITAPH ON FRANCIS CHARTRES by JOHN ARBUTHNOT SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 34. FAIRY LAND by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) FORMALITY AND THE SOUL: 2. JAMES MACNEIL WHISTLER by KARL W. BIGELOW THE BOHEMIANS OF BOSTON AND THEIR WAYS; A MEMORY OF THE JACOBEAN CRAZE by FRANK GELETT BURGESS |