Delphi Poetry Anthology: The World's Greatest Poems (Delphi Poets Series Book 50)

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Delphi Poetry Anthology: The World's Greatest Poems (Delphi Poets Series Book 50) Page 210

by Homer


  Tasting the air this spicy night which turns

  The unaccustomed head like Chianti wine!

  Oh, the church knows! don’t misreport me, now!

  It’s natural a poor monk out of bounds

  Should have his apt word to excuse himself:

  And hearken how I plot to make amends.

  I have bethought me: I shall paint a piece

  . . . There’s for you! Give me six months, then go, see

  Something in Sant’ Ambrogio’s! Bless the nuns!

  They want a cast o’ my office. I shall paint

  God in the midst, Madonna and her babe,

  Ringed by a bowery, flowery angel-brood,

  Lilies and vestments and white faces, sweet

  As puff on puff of grated orris-root

  When ladies crowd to Church at midsummer.

  And then i’ the front, of course a saint or two —

  Saint John’ because he saves the Florentines,

  Saint Ambrose, who puts down in black and white

  The convent’s friends and gives them a long day,

  And Job, I must have him there past mistake,

  The man of Uz (and Us without the z,

  Painters who need his patience). Well, all these

  Secured at their devotion, up shall come

  Out of a corner when you least expect,

  As one by a dark stair into a great light,

  Music and talking, who but Lippo! I! —

  Mazed, motionless, and moonstruck — I’m the man!

  Back I shrink — what is this I see and hear?

  I, caught up with my monk’s-things by mistake,

  My old serge gown and rope that goes all round,

  I, in this presence, this pure company!

  Where’s a hole, where’s a corner for escape?

  Then steps a sweet angelic slip of a thing

  Forward, puts out a soft palm— “Not so fast!”

  — Addresses the celestial presence, “nay —

  He made you and devised you, after all,

  Though he’s none of you! Could Saint John there draw —

  His camel-hair make up a painting brush?

  We come to brother Lippo for all that,

  Iste perfecit opus! So, all smile —

  I shuffle sideways with my blushing face

  Under the cover of a hundred wings

  Thrown like a spread of kirtles when you’re gay

  And play hot cockles, all the doors being shut,

  Till, wholly unexpected, in there pops

  The hothead husband! Thus I scuttle off

  To some safe bench behind, not letting go

  The palm of her, the little lily thing

  That spoke the good word for me in the nick,

  Like the Prior’s niece . . . Saint Lucy, I would say.

  And so all’s saved for me, and for the church

  A pretty picture gained. Go, six months hence!

  Your hand, sir, and good-bye: no lights, no lights!

  The street’s hushed, and I know my own way back,

  Don’t fear me! There’s the grey beginning. Zooks!

  List of Poems in Alphabetical Order

  List of Poets in Alphabetical Order

  List of Poems in Alphabetical Order

  List of Poets in Alphabetical Order

  Home-thoughts, from the Sea

  Robert Browning (1812–1889)

  NOBLY, nobly Cape Saint Vincent to the North-west died away;

  Sunset ran, one glorious blood-red, reeking into Cadiz Bay;

  Bluish ‘mid the burning water, full in face Trafalgar lay;

  In the dimmest North-east distance dawn’d Gibraltar grand and gray;

  ‘Here and here did England help me: how can I help England?’ — say, 5

  Whoso turns as I, this evening, turn to God to praise and pray,

  While Jove’s planet rises yonder, silent over Africa.

  List of Poems in Alphabetical Order

  List of Poets in Alphabetical Order

  Parting at Morning

  Robert Browning (1812–1889)

  ROUND the cape of a sudden came the sea,

  And the sun look’d over the mountain’s rim:

  And straight was a path of gold for him,

  And the need of a world of men for me.

  List of Poems in Alphabetical Order

  List of Poets in Alphabetical Order

  The Lost Mistress

  Robert Browning (1812–1889)

  ALL’S over, then: does truth sound bitter

  As one at first believes?

  Hark, ’tis the sparrows’ good-night twitter

  About your cottage eaves!

  And the leaf-buds on the vine are woolly, 5

  I noticed that, to-day;

  One day more bursts them open fully

  — You know the red turns gray.

  To-morrow we meet the same then, dearest?

  May I take your hand in mine? 10

  Mere friends are we, — well, friends the merest

  Keep much that I resign:

  For each glance of the eye so bright and black,

  Though I keep with heart’s endeavour, —

  Your voice, when you wish the snowdrops back, 15

  Though it stay in my soul for ever!

  Yet I will but say what mere friends say,

  Or only a thought stronger;

  I will hold your hand but as long as all may,

  Or so very little longer! 20

  List of Poems in Alphabetical Order

  List of Poets in Alphabetical Order

  The Last Ride Together

  Robert Browning (1812–1889)

  I SAID — Then, dearest, since ’tis so,

  Since now at length my fate I know,

  Since nothing all my love avails,

  Since all, my life seem’d meant for, fails,

  Since this was written and needs must be — 5

  My whole heart rises up to bless

  Your name in pride and thankfulness!

  Take back the hope you gave, — I claim

  Only a memory of the same,

  — And this beside, if you will not blame; 10

  Your leave for one more last ride with me.

  My mistress bent that brow of hers,

  Those deep dark eyes where pride demurs

  When pity would be softening through,

  Fix’d me a breathing-while or two 15

  With life or death in the balance: right!

  The blood replenish’d me again;

  My last thought was at least not vain:

  I and my mistress, side by side

  Shall be together, breathe and ride, 20

  So, one day more am I deified.

  Who knows but the world may end to-night?

  Hush! if you saw some western cloud

  All billowy-bosom’d, over-bow’d

  By many benedictions — sun’s 25

  And moon’s and evening-star’s at once —

  And so, you, looking and loving best,

  Conscious grew, your passion drew

  Cloud, sunset, moonrise, star-shine too,

  Down on you, near and yet more near, 30

  Till flesh must fade for heaven was here! —

  Thus leant she and linger’d — joy and fear!

  Thus lay she a moment on my breast.

  Then we began to ride. My soul

  Smooth’d itself out, a long-cramp’d scroll 35

  Freshening and fluttering in the wind.

  Past hopes already lay behind.

  What need to strive with a life awry?

  Had I said that, had I done this,

  So might I gain, so might I miss. 40

  Might she have loved me? just as well

  She might have hated, who can tell!

  Where had I been now if the worst befell?

  And here we are riding, she and I.

  Fail I alone, in words and deeds? 45
<
br />   Why, all men strive and who succeeds?

  We rode; it seem’d my spirit flew,

  Saw other regions, cities new,

  As the world rush’d by on either side.

  I thought, — All labour, yet no less 50

  Bear up beneath their unsuccess.

  Look at the end of work, contrast

  The petty done, the undone vast,

  This present of theirs with the hopeful past!

  I hoped she would love me; here we ride. 55

  What hand and brain went ever pair’d?

  What heart alike conceived and dared?

  What act proved all its thought had been?

  What will but felt the fleshly screen?

  We ride and I see her bosom heave. 60

  There’s many a crown for who can reach.

  Ten lines, a statesman’s life in each!

  The flag stuck on a heap of bones,

  A soldier’s doing! what atones?

  They scratch his name on the Abbey-stones. 65

  My riding is better, by their leave.

  What does it all mean, poet? Well,

  Your brains beat into rhythm, you tell

  What we felt only; you express’d

  You hold things beautiful the best, 70

  And pace them in rhyme so, side by side.

  ’Tis something, nay ’tis much: but then,

  Have you yourself what’s best for men?

  Are you — poor, sick, old ere your time —

  Nearer one whit your own sublime 75

  Than we who never have turn’d a rhyme?

  Sing, riding’s a joy! For me, I ride.

  And you, great sculptor — so, you gave

  A score of years to Art, her slave,

  And that’s your Venus, whence we turn 80

  To yonder girl that fords the burn!

  You acquiesce, and shall I repine?

  What, man of music, you grown gray

  With notes and nothing else to say,

  Is this your sole praise from a friend, 85

  ‘Greatly his opera’s strains intend,

  Put in music we know how fashions end!’

  I gave my youth: but we ride, in fine.

  Who knows what’s fit for us? Had fate

  Proposed bliss here should sublimate 90

  My being — had I sign’d the bond —

  Still one must lead some life beyond,

  Have a bliss to die with, dim-descried.

  This foot once planted on the goal,

  This glory-garland round my soul, 95

  Could I descry such? Try and test!

  I sink back shuddering from the quest

  Earth being so good, would heaven seem best?

  Now, heaven and she are beyond this ride.

  And yet — she has not spoke so long! 100

  What if heaven be that, fair and strong

  At life’s best, with our eyes upturn’d

  Whither life’s flower is first discern’d,

  We, fix’d so, ever should so abide?

  What if we still ride on, we two 105

  With life for ever old yet new,

  Changed not in kind but in degree,

  The instant made eternity, —

  And heaven just prove that I and she

  Ride, ride together, for ever ride? 110

  List of Poems in Alphabetical Order

  List of Poets in Alphabetical Order

  Pippa’s Song

  Robert Browning (1812–1889)

  THE YEAR’S at the spring,

  And day’s at the morn;

  Morning’s at seven;

  The hill-side’s dew-pearl’d;

  The lark’s on the wing; 5

  The snail’s on the thorn;

  God’s in His heaven —

  All’s right with the world!

  List of Poems in Alphabetical Order

  List of Poets in Alphabetical Order

  You’ll Love Me Yet

  Robert Browning (1812–1889)

  YOU’LL love me yet! — and I can tarry

  Your love’s protracted growing:

  June rear’d that bunch of flowers you carry,

  From seeds of April’s sowing.

  I plant a heartful now: some seed 5

  At least is sure to strike,

  And yield — what you’ll not pluck indeed,

  Not love, but, may be, like.

  You’ll look at least on love’s remains,

  A grave’s one violet: 10

  Your look? — that pays a thousand pains.

  What’s death? You’ll love me yet!

  List of Poems in Alphabetical Order

  List of Poets in Alphabetical Order

  My Last Duchess

  Ferrara

  Robert Browning (1812–1889)

  THAT’S my last Duchess painted on the wall,

  Looking as if she were alive. I call

  That piece a wonder, now: Frà Pandolf’s hands

  Worked busily a day, and there she stands.

  Will’t please you sit and look at her? I said 5

  “Frà Pandolf” by design, for never read

  Strangers like you that pictured countenance,

  The depth and passion of its earnest glance,

  But to myself they turned (since none puts by

  The curtain I have drawn for you, but I) 10

  And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst,

  How such a glance came there; so, not the first

  Are you to turn and ask thus. Sir, ’twas not

  Her husband’s presence only, called that spot

  Of joy into the Duchess’ cheek: perhaps 15

  Frà Pandolf chanced to say, “Her mantle laps

  Over my lady’s wrist too much,” or “Paint

  Must never hope to reproduce the faint

  Half-flush that dies along her throat:” such stuff

  Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enough 20

  For calling up that spot of joy. She had

  A heart — how shall I say? — too soon made glad.

  Too easily impressed: she liked whate’er

  She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.

  Sir, ’twas all one! My favor at her breast, 25

  The dropping of the daylight in the West,

  The bough of cherries some officious fool

  Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule

  She rode with round the terrace — all and each

  Would draw from her alike the approving speech, 30

  Or blush, at least. She thanked men, — good! but thanked

  Somehow — I know not how — as if she ranked

  My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name

  With anybody’s gift. Who’d stoop to blame

  This sort of trifling? Even had you skill 35

  In speech — (which I have not) — to make your will

  Quite clear to such an one, and say, “Just this

  Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss,

  Or there exceed the mark” — and if she let

  Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set 40

  Her wits to yours, forsooth, and made excuse,

  — E’en then would be some stooping; and I choose

  Never to stoop. Oh sir, she smiled, no doubt,

  Whene’er I passed her; but who passed without

  Much the same smile? This grew; I gave commands; 45

  Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands

  As if alive. Will’t please you rise? We’ll meet

  The company below, then. I repeat,

  The Count your master’s known munificence

  Is ample warrant that no just pretence 50

  Of mine for dowry will be disallowed;

  Though his fair daughter’s self, as I avowed

  At starting, is my object. Nay, we’ll go

  Together down, sir. Notice Neptune, though,

  Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity
, 55

  Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!

  List of Poems in Alphabetical Order

  List of Poets in Alphabetical Order

  The Bishop Orders His Tomb at Saint Praxed’s Church

  Rome, 15 —

  Robert Browning (1812–1889)

  VANITY, saith the preacher, vanity!

  Draw round my bed: is Anselm keeping back?

  Nephews — sons mine … ah God, I know not! Well —

  She, men would have to be your mother once,

  Old Gandolf envied me, so fair she was! 5

  What’s done is done, and she is dead beside,

  Dead long ago, and I am Bishop since,

  And as she died so must we die ourselves,

  And thence ye may perceive the world’s a dream.

  Life, how and what is it? As here I lie 10

  In this state-chamber, dying by degrees,

  Hours and long hours in the dead night, I ask

  “Do I live, am I dead?” Peace, peace seems all.

  Saint Praxed’s ever was the church for peace;

  And so, about this tomb of mine. I fought 15

  With tooth and nail to save my niche, ye know:

  — Old Gandolf cozened me, despite my care;

  Shrewd was that snatch from out the corner South

  He graced his carrion with, God curse the same!

  Yet still my niche is not so cramped but thence 20

  One sees the pulpit o’ the epistle-side,

  And somewhat of the choir, those silent seats,

  And up into the very dome where live

  The angels, and a sunbeam’s sure to lurk:

  And I shall fill my slab of basalt there, 25

  And ‘neath my tabernacle take my rest,

  With those nine columns round me, two and two,

  The odd one at my feet where Anselm stands:

  Peach-blossom marble all, the rare, the ripe

  As fresh poured red wine of a mighty pulse 30

 

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