Nature

The Pattern of the Earth

by Helen Hay Whitney 1875–1944

From Sonnets and Songs (1905)

Nature

The pattern of the earth, so wonderful,
Is, more than myrtle, very dear to me.
Across the avenue of limes I see
A little mist by ghosts made magical,
Tossing across the hills, more beautiful
Than the deep eyes of amber women, free
Of shame and of disdain, on some far sea
Swept by trade-winds the sun makes lyrical.

There is no air the mind may not recall,
Blown from the violet-beds of Greece; and all
The moons who drop their shattered petals here
Live from the days which hid Semiramis.
Breezes upon my lips are subtly dear,
Because they bear the burden of her kiss.

MLA

Whitney, Helen Hay. “The Pattern of the Earth.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/whitney_hh/79/.

Chicago

Whitney, Helen Hay. “The Pattern of the Earth.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/whitney_hh/79/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Helen Hay Whitney