History & Politics

Venice

by Algernon Charles Swinburne 1837–1909

From A Century of Roundels (1883)

History & Politics

Out of the dark pure twilight, where the stream
Flows glimmering, streaked by many a birdlike bark
That skims the gloom whence towers and bridges gleam
Out of the dark,

Once more a face no glance might choose but mark
Shone pale and bright, with eyes whose deep slow beam
Made quick the twilight, lifeless else and stark.

The same it seemed, or mystery made it seem,
As those before beholden; but St. Mark
Ruled here the ways that showed it like a dream
Out of the dark.

MLA

Swinburne, Algernon Charles. “Venice.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/swinburne/661/.

Chicago

Swinburne, Algernon Charles. “Venice.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/swinburne/661/.

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