Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume I. Of Home: of Friendship. 1904. | | | | Poems of Home: IV. Youth | | A Girl of Pompeii | | Edward Sanford Martin (1856–1939) |
| | | A PUBLIC haunt they found her in: | |
| She lay asleep, a lovely child; | |
| The only thing left undefiled | |
| Where all things else bore taint of sin. | |
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| Her charming contours fixed in clay | 5 |
| The universal law suspend, | |
| And turn Time’s chariot back, and blend | |
| A thousand years with yesterday. | |
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| A sinless touch, austere yet warm, | |
| Around her girlish figure pressed, | 10 |
| Caught the sweet imprint of her breast, | |
| And held her, surely clasped, from harm. | |
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| Truer than work of sculptor’s art | |
| Comes this dear maid of long ago, | |
| Sheltered from woful chance, to show | 15 |
| A spirit’s lovely counterpart, | |
| |
| And bid mistrustful men be sure | |
| That form shall fate of flesh escape, | |
| And, quit of earth’s corruptions, shape | |
| Itself, imperishably pure. | 20 | | | |
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