Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE ENCHANTED ISLE, by CARROLL RYAN Poet's Biography First Line: The drifting years have brought me to Last Line: The world of love and dreams is hers. Alternate Author Name(s): Ryan, William Thomas Carroll Subject(s): Love; Old Age | ||||||||
The drifting years have brought me to In island in the sea of time, With shores resembling naught I knew In any former age or clime. In old romance I heard of it, Perchance I saw it in my dreams, As clouds that thro' the moonlight flit, Make phantoms of the passing beams. However, 'tis a wondrous isle, With many a quaint and cloudy height That blushes ever at the smile Of morning through the veil of night. Along the valleys rivers glide Beneath the walls of castles grand, That are not homes for human pride, Nor were they built by human hand. The marble steps and pillared walls Were planned in ages long ago, When old magicians in these halls Ruled genii from the world below. But they have long since passed away And other beings take their place, Defying death and eke decay, Perennial in their youth and grace. And there are gardens filled with flow'rs, Where palpitating odors move, And groves that cluster into bow'rs O'er leafy couches made for love. Ah, human hearts! how well it were, If ye could meet in place like this Whene'er your deepest fountains stir, Responsive to the clinging kiss. And there are forests dark and high Of trees that tell the strangest tales That e'er were told beneath the sky, Or listened to by heedless gales. The caverns deep, in mountains old, Are filled with treasures, rare and vast, And diamonds heaped on floors of gold By gnomes in the forgotten past. A castle stands upon a hill, Whose lofty rooms contain a store Of volumes, where I learn at will The mysteries of magic lore. And there, upon a lofty seat, Is placed the Queen of all this isle A sweet enchantress, at whose feet I rest, and live within her smile. The sad misfortune of my birth Compels me oft to leave her side, Because I am a thing of earth, And to the sons of men allied. For me she sings the sweetest songs, On me their happiness confers; Whatever else to earth belongs, The world of love and dreams is hers. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AT EIGHTY I CHANGE MY VIEW by DAVID IGNATOW FAWN'S FOSTER-MOTHER by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE DEER LAY DOWN THEIR BONES by ROBINSON JEFFERS OLD BLACK MEN by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON A WINTER ODE TO THE OLD MEN OF LUMMUS PARK, / MIAMI, FLORIDA by DONALD JUSTICE AFTER A LINE BY JOHN PEALE BISHOP by DONALD JUSTICE TO HER BODY, AGAINST TIME by ROBERT KELLY |
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