Love

Sappho: XCII

by Bliss Carman 1861–1929

From Sappho: One Hundred Lyrics (1907)

Love

Like a red lily in the meadow grasses,
Swayed by the wind and burning in the sunlight,
I saw you, where the city chokes with traffic,
Bearing among the passers-by your beauty,
Unsullied, wild, and delicate as a flower.
And then I knew, past doubt or peradventure,
Our loved and mighty Eleusinian mother
Had taken thought of me for her pure worship,
And of her favour had assigned my comrade
For the Great Mysteries,—knew I should find you
When the dusk murmured with its new-made lovers,
And we be no more foolish but wise children,
And well content partake of joy together,
As she ordains and human hearts desire.

✦ ✦ ✦

From Sappho: One Hundred Lyrics (1907)

MLA

Carman, Bliss. “Sappho: XCII.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/carman/291/.

Chicago

Carman, Bliss. “Sappho: XCII.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/carman/291/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Bliss Carman