| Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. 1912–22. | | | | Priapus | | By H. D. |
| | Keeper of Orchards
I SAW the first pear | |
| As it fell. | |
| The honey-seeking, golden-banded, | |
| The yellow swarm | |
| Was not more fleet than I, | 5 |
| (Spare us from loveliness!) | |
| And I fell prostrate, | |
| Crying, | |
| “Thou hast flayed us with thy blossoms; | |
| Spare us the beauty | 10 |
| Of fruit-trees!” | |
| |
| The honey-seeking | |
| Paused not, | |
| The air thundered their song, | |
| And I alone was prostrate. | 15 |
| |
| O rough-hewn | |
| God of the orchard, | |
| I bring thee an offering; | |
| Do thou, alone unbeautiful | |
| (Son of the god), | 20 |
| Spare us from loveliness. | |
| |
| The fallen hazel-nuts, | |
| Stripped late of their green sheaths, | |
| The grapes, red-purple, | |
| Their berries | 25 |
| Dripping with wine, | |
| Pomegranates already broken, | |
| And shrunken figs, | |
| And quinces untouched, | |
| I bring thee as offering. | 30 | | | |
|
|
