George Essex Evans

The Doves of Venus

The dull earth swung in silence o’er,
    A dreamless world, a dreary star,
Until the doves of Venus bore
    To Thessaly her ivory car.
She whispered to the sea and air,
    And lightly with her wand she smote
The solid earth, till everywhere
    The birds gave forth a sweeter note.
Whereat the sun did brighter shine,
    More richly did the roses blow,
And like deep peace, a joy divine
    Did fill the souls of men below.
And still are showered her magic arts
    On man and maiden hand in hand,
Who hear a music in their hearts
    Which none but they can understand.
A sweeter perfume sheds the rose,
    A deeper azure tints the sky,
And softly with the daylight’s close
    The doves of Venus hover nigh.
Thus oft, to earth doth she return
    To strip the scales from mortal eyes,
And sends us Love, that we may learn
    How Earth may yet be Paradise.