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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE LAMENTATION OF DANAE, by SIMONIDES OF CEOS Poet's Biography First Line: When, in the carven chest Last Line: As peacefully as thine. Alternate Author Name(s): Simonides Of Keos Variant Title(s): Danae Cast Adrift Subject(s): Danae; Mythology - Classical | |||
THE night winds howled -- the billows dashed Against the tossing chest; And Danäe to her broken heart Her slumbering infant pressed. My little child -- in tears she said -- To wake and weep is mine, But thou canst sleep -- thou dost not know Thy mother's lot, and thine. The moon is up, the moonbeams smile -- They tremble on the main; But dark, within my floating cell, To me they smile in vain. Thy folded mantle wraps thee warm, Thy clustering locks are dry, Thou dost not hear the shrieking gust, Nor breakers booming high. As o'er thy sweet unconscious face A mournful watch I keep, I think, didst thou but know thy fate, How thou wouldst also weep. Yet, dear one, sleep, and sleep, ye winds That vex the restless brine -- When shall these eyes, my babe, be sealed As peacefully as thine. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BOOK OF THE DEAD MAN (#11): 1. ABOUT THE DEAD MAN AND MEDUSA by MARVIN BELL THE BOOK OF THE DEAD MAN (#11): 2. MORE ABOUT THE DEAD MAN AND MEDUSA by MARVIN BELL THE BIRTH OF VENUS by HAYDEN CARRUTH LEDA 2: A NOTE ON VISITATIONS by LUCILLE CLIFTON LEDA 3: A PERSONAL NOTE (RE: VISITATIONS) by LUCILLE CLIFTON UNEXPECTED HOLIDAY by STEPHEN DOBYNS THERMOPYLAE by SIMONIDES OF CEOS |
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