John
Alford.
Then
with
nimble hands and
quick ,
At the coming
of the dawn,
Generously
have sprinkled
thick
Pearls
and
diamonds on
the lawn.
ODE
ON
NIGHT.
Do you
know
the
soul
of night ?
It
is more
unfathomable
than
the
mind
of
a
woman
,
It
is more
beautiful
than
her
body .
For
night
is
as
strong
as
a
virgin
in
the prime of
her
womanhood
,
She is as tender as
a mother with
her babe at breast.
My
soul
was aflame
for
her
love
.
I
went out
to
her
and
reached
up
but was unworthy
.
I
strove
for
her
as
a
river
that strives
towards
a
wide
ocean
.
I
caught
at
the
jewels
in
her hair
,
but
they
evaded
me
.
The
great
diadem
that
is
set
in
the midst
of
her
forehead
mocked me
So
that
I
was provoked
and
blasphemed
against her
,
For my
longing
was
greater
than
I
could
bear
.
But
she
took
pity
on
me
.
She
touched
mine
eyelids
with
her
lips
That
I
might
know
nothing
in
the
time
of
her
presence
.
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