Poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Sonnets 11: As To Some Lovely Temple, Tenantless

As to some lovely temple, tenantless
Long since, that once was sweet with shivering brass,
Knowing well its altars ruined and the grass
Grown up between the stones, yet from excess
Of grief hard driven, or great loneliness,
The worshiper returns, and those who pass
Marvel him crying on a name that was,—
So is it now with me in my distress.
Your body was a temple to Delight;
Cold are its ashes whence the breath is fled,
Yet here one time your spirit was wont to move;
Here might I hope to find you day or night,
And here I come to look for you, my love,
Even now, foolishly, knowing you are dead.

1. Assault
2. Tavern
3. Fontaine, Je Ne Boirai Pas De Ton Eau!
4. Witch-Wife
5. Eel-Grass

Print

1317 Views

Last Poems

To Russian version