Here where the cypress tall
Shadows the stucco wall,
Bronze and deep,
Where the chrysanthemums blow,
And the roses–blood and snow–
He lies asleep.
Florence dreameth afar;
Memories of foray and war,
Murmur still;
The Certosa crowns with a cold
Cloud of snow and gold
The olive hill.
What has he now for the streams
Born sweet and deep with dreams
From the cedar meres?
Only the Arno’s flow,
Turbid, and weary, and slow
With wrath and tears.
What has he now for the song
Of the boatmen, joyous and long,
Where the rapids shine?
Only the sound of toil,
Where the peasants press the soil
For the oil and wine.
Spirit-fellow in sooth
With bold La Salle and Duluth,
And La V?randrye,–
Nothing he has but rest,
Deep in his cypress nest
With memory.
Hearts of steel and of fire,
Why do ye love and aspire,
When follows
Death–all your passionate deeds,
Garnered with rust and with weeds
In the hollows?
God that hardened the steel,
Bid the flame leap and reel,
Gave us unrest;
We act in the dusk afar,
In a star beyond your star,
His behest.
“We leave you dreams and names
Still we are iron and flames,
Biting and bright;
Into some virgin world,
Champions, we are hurled,
Of venture and fight.”
Here where the shadows fall,
From the cypress by the wall,
Where the roses are–
Here is a dream and a name,
There, like a rose of flame,
Rises–a star.
(Duncan Campbell Scott)
More Poetry from Duncan Campbell Scott:
Duncan Campbell Scott Poems based on Topics: World, Joy & Excitement, War & Peace, Dreams, Fire, God, Snow, Memory, Name, Wine- Lines In Memory Of Edmund Morris (Duncan Campbell Scott Poems)
- Ode For The Keats Centenary (Duncan Campbell Scott Poems)
- The Height Of Land (Duncan Campbell Scott Poems)
- Spring On Mattagmi (Duncan Campbell Scott Poems)
- A Legend Of Christ's Nativity (Duncan Campbell Scott Poems)
- The Battle Of Lundy's Lane (Duncan Campbell Scott Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: God Poems, World Poems, War & Peace Poems, Joy & Excitement Poems, Dreams Poems, Name Poems, Fire Poems, Snow Poems, Memory Poems, Wine PoemsBased on Keywords: arno, mères, boatmen, chrysanthemums, foray, dreameth, stucco, duluth, certosa, death-all