THE kiss that would make a maid's cheek flush Wroth, as if kissing were a sin Amidst the Argus eyes and din And tell-tale glare of noon, Brings but a murmur and a blush, Beneath the modest moon. Ye days, gone -- never to come back, When love returned entranced me so, That still its pictures move and glow In the dark chamber of my heart; Leave not my memory's future track -- I will not let you part. 'Twas moonlight, when my earliest love First on my bosom dropped her head; A moment then concentrated The bliss of years, as if the spheres Their course had faster driven, And carried Enoch-like above, A living man to Heaven. 'Tis by the rolling moon we measure, The date between our nuptial night And that blest hour which brings to light The fruit of bliss -- the pledge of faith; When we impress upon the treasure A father's earliest kiss. The Moon's the Earth's enamored bride; True to him in her very changes, To other stars she never ranges: Though, crossed by him, sometimes she dips Her light, in short offended pride, And faints to an eclipse. The fairies revel by her sheen; 'Tis only when the Moon's above The fire-fly kindles into love, And flashes light to show it: The nightingale salutes her Queen Of Heaven, her heavenly poet. Then ye that love -- by moonlight gloom Meet at my grave, and plight regard. Oh! could I be the Orphean bard Of whom it is reported, That nightingales sung o'er his tomb, Whilst lovers came and courted. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LONELY BURIAL by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET TO A DEAD LOVER by LOUISE BOGAN FRAGMENTARY BLUE by ROBERT FROST FOR REMEMBERING HOW TO LIVE WITHOUT YOU by JAMES GALVIN SURFACES AND MASKS; 1 by CLARENCE MAJOR THE NEW APOCRYPHA: THE FIG TREE by EDGAR LEE MASTERS IMPRESSIONS OF FRANCOIS-MARIE AROUET (DE VOLTAIRE) by EZRA POUND |