Classic and Contemporary Poetry
PRELUDE, by WILLIAM SHARP Poet's Biography First Line: In a grove of ilex Last Line: This is the gift of the flower of dream. Alternate Author Name(s): Macleod, Fiona Subject(s): Dreams; Flowers; Hearts; Lilies; Love; Rome, Italy; Nightmares | ||||||||
In a grove of ilex Of oak and of chestnut, Far on the sunswept Heights of Tusculum, There groweth a blossom, A snow-white bloom, Which many have heard of, But few have seen. Oft bright as the morning, Oft pale as moonlight, There in the greenness, In shadow and sunshine It grows, awaiting The hand that shall pluck it: For this blossom springeth From the heart of a poet And of her who loved him In the long ago, Here on the sunswept Heights of Tusculum. And them it awaiteth; Deep lovers only, Kindred of those Who loved and passioned There, and whose heart's-blood Wrought from the Earth This marvellous blossom, The Shadow-Lily, The Flower of Dream. Few that shall see it, Fewer still Those that shall pluck it: But whoso gathers That snow-white blossom Shall love for ever, For the passionate breath Of the Shadow-Lily Is Deathless Joy: And whoso plucks it, keeps it, treasures it, Has sunshine ever About the heart, Deep in the heart immortal sunshine: For this is the gift of the snow-white blossom, This is the gift of the Flower of Dream. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VARIATIONS: 14 by CONRAD AIKEN VARIATIONS: 18 by CONRAD AIKEN LIVE IT THROUGH by DAVID IGNATOW A DREAM OF GAMES by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN THE DREAM OF WAKING by RANDALL JARRELL APOLOGY FOR BAD DREAMS by ROBINSON JEFFERS |
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