Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE FOUNTAIN by KATHARINE TYNAN

First Line: THAT WAS THE LORELEI, TALL WITHIN THE JET
Last Line: CAUGHT IN THE FOUNTAIN.
Subject(s): COLOGNE, GERMANY; FOUNTAINS; LORELEI;
(COLOGNE, 1923)

THAT was the Lorelei, tall within the jet
Of springing water.
Lovely from silver head to her slim feet
She, a King's daughter,

Caught in a pale enchantment: there came gleams
Of throat and bosom,
Rose-pale, and bathed in the pellucid streams,
Fine as fruit-blossom,

Betwixt the poplars and the tulip-trees,
Crystal and slender.
Where are her maids? Not any one of these
Naiads attend her.

That was the Lorelei: for a little while
Lost to her mountain,
One moment shone her pale, her exquisite smile,
Caught in the fountain.



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