Alfred, Lord Tennyson(1809–1892)

Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal

Now sleeps the crimson petal, now the white;

Nor waves the cypress in the palace walk;

N o r w i n k s t h e g o l d f i n i n t h e porphyry font:3

T h e f i r e f l y w a k e n s : w a k e n t h o u w i t h m e .

Now droops the milkwhite peacock like a ghost,

And like a ghost she glimmers on to me.

N o w lies t h e Earth all D a n a e 4 t o t h e stars,

A n d all thy heart lies o p e n u n t o m e .

N o w slides t h e s i l e n t m e t e o r o n , a n d l e a v e s

A s h i n i n g furrow, as thy t h o u g h t s in m e .

N o w f o l d s t h e lily all h e r s w e e t n e s s up,

A n d slips i n t o t h e b o s o m o f t h e lake:

S o f o l d thyself, m y dearest, t h o u , a n d slip

I n t o m y b o s o m a n d b e lost i n m e .