Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SIBYL'S CAVE AT CUMA, by AUBREY DE VERE Poet's Biography First Line: Cumean sibyl! From thy sultry cave Subject(s): Italy | ||||||||
Cumean Sibyl! from thy sultry cave Thy dark eyes level with the sulphurous ground Through the gloom flashing, roll in wrath around. What see they? Coasts perpetual earthquakes pave With ruin; piles half buried in the wave; Wrecks of old times and new in lava drowned; - And festive crowds, sin-steeped ami myrtle-crowned. Like idiots dancing on a parent's grave. And they foresee. Those pallid lips with pain Suppress their thrilling whispers. Sibyl, spare! Could Wisdom's voice divide yon sea, or rear A new Vesuvius from its flaming plane, Futile the warning! Power despised! forbear To deepen guilt by counsel breathed in vain! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...1851: A MESSAGE TO DENMARK HILL by RICHARD HOWARD TONIGHT THE HEART-SHAPED LEAVES by JAN HELLER LEVI JEWISH GRAVEYARDS, ITALY by PHILIP LEVINE SAILING HOME FROM RAPALLO by ROBERT LOWELL SUNLIGHT AND SHADOW by LISEL MUELLER HOW DUKE VALENTINE CONTRIVED by BASIL BUNTING FRAGMENTS FROM ITALY: 1 by JOHN CIARDI |
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