II
EMERALD AND ROSE
I paced a vaulted gallery at night;
Attendant columns led me on my way;
And lamps like giant pearls gave gentle light,
Bathing the flushed cloister in a milky day,
Jostling pigeons up aloft
Dreamed with croonings feather-soft.
Out beyond in the limpid gloom
I saw dark trees and bushes loom.
Soon the silence, as I paced,
Thinned and water-babble laced
Crisping o'er it; so I followed
Where a rosy alcove hollowed.
Burly columns, creamy white,
Before the cave rose to the night
And lifted for roof a starry sky,
Blue with midnight's velvet dye.
From the blushing rounded wall
Broke an emerald waterfall,
Dropped and plashed and rippled cool,
Spread and rested in a pool.
Oh the goblin water's sheen!
Oh the emerald fire of green!
Wander mortal, wander sprite,
Follow hearing, follow sight,
Follow water, wind, and fire,
Follow shadow, follow light!
Toss and catch with lean Desire,
Fancy free leads on tonight.
