17 fiordilevante

 

 

 

 

SONNET TO ZANTE

Fair isle, that from the fairest of all flowers

Thy gentlest of all gentle names dost take!

How many memories of what radiant hours

At sight of thee and thine at once awake!

How many scenes of what departed bliss!

How many thoughts of what entombed hopes!

How many visions of a maiden that is

No more–no more upon thy verdant slopes!

No more! alas, that magical sad soundT

ransforming all! Thy charms shall please no more-

Thy memory no more! Accursed ground

Henceforth I hold thy flower-enameled shore,

O hyacinthine isle! O purple Zante!

“Isola d’oro! Fior di Levante!”

(E.A. Poe)