Hesperides

Men say - beyond the western seas
    The happy isles no longer glow,
No sailor sights Hesperides,
    All that was long ago.

No longer in a glittering morn
    Their misty meadows flicker nigh,
No singing with the spray is borne,
    All that is long gone by.

To-day upon the golden beach
    No gold-haired guardian maidens stand,
No apples ripen out of reach,
    And none are mad to land.

The merchant-men, 'tis they say so,
    That trade across the western seas,
In hurried transit to and fro,
    About Hesperides.

But, Reader, not as these thou art,
    So, loose thy shallop from its hold,
And, trusting to the ancient chart,
    Thou 'It make them as of old.

Richard Le Gallienne

Richard Le Gallienne

Richard Le Gallienne was an English author and poet born on January 20, 1866. Known for his lyrical poetry, he was a key figure in the literary circles of the fin de siècle. He contributed to the literary magazine 'The Yellow Book' and was involved with the Rhymers' Club, an influential group of London-based poets. His works often explored themes of beauty, love, and nature. His influence extended to both sides of the Atlantic, and he spent the latter part of his life in the United States, where he continued to write until his death on September 15, 1947.

Richard Le Gallienne

English

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