Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume VII. Descriptive: Narrative. 1904. | | | | Descriptive Poems: III. Places | | Venice | | John Addington Symonds (1840–1893) |
| | | VENICE, thou Siren of sea cities, wrought | |
| By mirage, built on water, stair o’er stair, | |
| Of sunbeams and cloud shadows, phantom-fair, | |
| With naught of earth to mar thy sea-born thought! | |
| Thou floating film upon the wonder-fraught | 5 |
| Ocean of dreams! Thou hast no dream so rare | |
| As are thy sons and daughters,—they who wear | |
| Foam flakes of charm from thine enchantment caught. | |
| O dark brown eyes! O tangles of dark hair! | |
| O heaven-blue eyes, blonde tresses where the breeze | 10 |
| Plays over sunburned cheeks in sea-blown air! | |
| Firm limbs of moulded bronze! frank debonair | |
| Smiles of deep-bosomed women! Loves that seize | |
| Man’s soul, and waft her on storm melodies! | | | | |
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