Sibyl

John Howard Payne 1791 (New York City) – 1852



THIS is the glamour of the world antique:
The thyme-scents of Hymettus fill the air,
And in the grass narcissus-cups are fair.
The full brook wanders through the ferns to seek
The amber haunts of bees; and on the peak
Of the soft hill, against the gold-marged sky,
She stands, a dream from out the days gone by.
Entreat her not. Indeed, she will not speak!
Her eyes are full of dreams; and in her ears
There is the rustle of immortal wings;
And ever and anon the slow breeze bears
The mystic murmur of the songs she sings.
Entreat her not: she sees thee not, nor hears
Aught but the sights and sounds of bygone springs.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

35 sec read
39

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABBAACCADEFEGE
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 627
Words 119
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14

John Howard Payne

John Howard Payne was an American actor, poet, playwright, and author who had most of his theatrical career and success in London. more…

All John Howard Payne poems | John Howard Payne Books

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    "Sibyl" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 16 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/23325/sibyl>.

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