Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE SORCERESS OF THE MOON, by WILLIAM ROSE BENET Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Its gates are griffin-guarded gates Last Line: The sorceress of the moon! Subject(s): Buildings & Builders; Courts & Courtiers; Guard Duty; Royal Court Life; Royalty; Kings; Queens | ||||||||
Its gates are griffin-guarded gates, Its towers of yellow marble hewn. Resplendent glints each sparkling stud Of rubies red as pigeon's blood, Of pearls as white as the swan's neck, Of diamonds without flaw or fleck That crust its towers, and glitter thence Along its cloudy battlements. And far within its portals waits The sorceress of the moon! This palace I have seen afar When crimson, gold, and purple cloud Made all the west a blaze of flame, Ere twilight from her cloisters came To walk the heavens with nunlike pace And downcast eyes and wistful face. Then all its wonder crumbling lies In splendid wreckage on the skies. But nowah, see! Its raptures rise Impossible and proud. So fling a bridle of delight Upon the wildest dream of all, And, as Mahomet 'strode the back Of the white beast called Alborac, We too shall thunder up the west With rich caparison and crest, Wind horn before those marvelous gates, Daring their guard, and find who waits Withdrawn in splendor infinite In that vast presence-hall! Her brows would make the calla gray. Her hair is soft and dark as night. Her purple dais canopy Bears stars in golden broidery. She wields a slight and silvern wand To summon spirits from beyond. And all the wandering winds in tune Sing to the sorceress of the moon With airiest music, and alway Swoon in her haze of light. Yet hers are griffin-guarded gates! Minds in her presence madden soon! Her gaze is strange: and to sustain Her glamorous eyes means joy and pain Mixed in such wise, the soul is caught Spellbound, bewildered passing thought. Oh, glance not long, but shun her sight While still thy heart desires delight, Where, deep within the sunset, waits The sorceress of the moon! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BOTHWELL: PART 4 by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN IN PHARAOH'S TOMB by HAYDEN CARRUTH FOR THE INVESTITURE by CECIL DAY LEWIS ELEGY ASKING THAT IT BE THE LAST; FOR INGRID ERHARDT, 1951-1971 by NORMAN DUBIE L,ENVOI: IN OUR TIME by ERNEST HEMINGWAY VASHTI by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON LINES ON CARMEN SYLVA by EMMA LAZARUS TO CARMEN SYLVA (QUEEN OF ROUMANIA) by EMMA LAZARUS THE FALCONER OF GOD by WILLIAM ROSE BENET |
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