Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume VII. Descriptive: Narrative. 1904. | | | | Descriptive Poems: II. Nature and Art | | Laus Veneris | | Louise Chandler Moulton (1835–1908) |
| | A Picture by Burne-Jones
PALLID with too much longing, | |
| White with passion and prayer, | |
| Goddess of love and beauty, | |
| She sits in the picture there,— | |
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| Sits with her dark eyes seeking | 5 |
| Something more subtle still | |
| Than the old delights of loving | |
| Her measureless days to fill. | |
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| She has loved and been loved so often | |
| In her long, immortal years, | 10 |
| That she tires of the worn-out rapture, | |
| Sickens of hopes and fears. | |
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| No joys or sorrows move her, | |
| Done with her ancient pride; | |
| For her head she found too heavy | 15 |
| The crown she has cast aside. | |
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| Clothed in her scarlet splendor, | |
| Bright with her glory of hair, | |
| Sad that she is not mortal,— | |
| Eternally sad and fair, | 20 |
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| Longing for joys she knows not, | |
| Athirst with a vain desire, | |
| There she sits in the picture, | |
| Daughter of foam and fire. | | | | |
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