Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ROME UNVISITED, by OSCAR WILDE Poem Explanation Poet's Biography First Line: The corn has turned from grey to red Last Line: Of him who now doth hide his face. Alternate Author Name(s): Finga, O'flahertie Wills Subject(s): Rome, Italy | ||||||||
I. THE corn has turned from grey to red, Since first my spirit wandered forth From the drear cities of the north, And to Italia's mountains fled. And here I set my face towards home, For all my pilgrimage is done, Although, methinks, yon blood-red sun Marshals the way to Holy Rome. O Blessed Lady, who dost hold Upon the seven hills thy reign! O Mother without blot or stain, Crowned with bright crowns of triple gold! O Roma, Roma, at thy feet I lay this barren gift of song! For, ah! the way is steep and long That leads unto thy sacred street. II. And yet what joy it were for me To turn my feet unto the south, And journeying towards the Tiber mouth To kneel again at Fiesole! And wandering through the tangled pines That break the gold of Arno's stream, To see the purple mist and gleam Of morning on the Apennines. By many a vineyard-hidden home, Orchard, and olive-garden grey, Till from the drear Campagna's way The seven hills bear up the dome! III. A pilgrim from the northern seas -- What joy for me to seek alone The wondrous Temple, and the throne Of Him who holds the awful keys! When, bright with purple and with gold, Come priest and holy Cardinal, And borne above the heads of all The gentle Shepherd of the Fold. O joy to see before I die The only God-anointed King, And hear the silver trumpets ring A triumph as He passes by! Or at the altar of the shrine Holds high the mystic sacrifice, And shows a God to human eyes Beneath the veil of bread and wine. IV. For lo, what changes time can bring! The cycles of revolving years May free my heart from all its fears, -- And teach my lips a song to sing. Before yon field of trembling gold Is garnered into dusty sheaves, Or ere the autumn's scarlet leaves Flutter as birds adown the wold, I may have run the glorious race, And caught the torch while yet aflame, And called upon the holy name Of Him who now doth hide His face. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THOSE GRAVES IN ROME by LARRY LEVIS ROMAN ELEGIES by JOSEPH BRODSKY ROMAN DIARY: 1951 by JOHN CIARDI VIGNETTES OVERSEAS: 7. ROME by SARA TEASDALE ROMANESQUE ARCHES by TOMAS TRANSTROMER AN APARTMENT WITH A VIEW by JOHN CIARDI MANIFEST DESTINY by JORIE GRAHAM RUINES OF ROME by JOACHIM DU BELLAY |
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