LOVE’S Herald flew o’er all the fields of Greece,
Crying: “
Love’s altar waits for sacrifice!”
And all folk answered, like a wave of peace,
With treasured offerings and gifts of price.
Toward high Olympus every white road filled
With pilgrims streaming to the blest abode;
Each bore rich tribute, some for joys fulfilled,
And some for blisses lingering on the road.
The pious peasant drives his laden car;
The fisher youth bears treasure from the sea;
A wife brings honey for the sweets that are;
A maid brings roses for the sweets to be.
Here strides the soldier with his wreathed sword,
No more to glitter in his country’s wars;
There walks the poet with his mystic word,
And smiles at Eros’ mild recruit from Mars.
But midst these bearers of propitious gifts,
Behold where two, a youth and maiden, stand:
She bears no boon; his arm no burden lifts,
Save her dear fingers pressed within his hand.
Their touch ignites the soft delicious fire,
Whose rays the very altar-flames eclipse;
Their eyes are on each other-sweet desire
And yearning passion tremble on their lips.
So fair-so strong! Ah, Love! what errant wiles
Have brought these two so poor and so unblest?
But see! Instead of anger, Cupid smiles;
And lo! he crowns their sacrifice as best!
Their hands are empty, but their hearts are
Their gifts so rare for all the host suffice:
Before the altar is their life-wine spilled-
The love they long for is their sacrifice.
(John Boyle O Reilly)
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Based on Topics: Love Poems, War & Peace Poems, Youth Poems, Cry Poems, Fire Poems, Smiling Poems, Literature Poems, Anger Poems, Charity Poems, Poets Poems, Soldiers PoemsBased on Keywords: ignites, fair-so, altar-flames, life-wine