The Blessed Damozel

The blessed damozel leaned out From the gold bar of Heaven; Her eyes were deeper than the sea, And as a sea-bird’s call, she serenely Indicated, as with her finger on its leaky breast, The hands of the faithful who were left to does all the tasks.

Her golden hair streamed down; she held The green serpent of the months, The little scarlet bird that twinkles in the night And lingers on the throaty lusts; The light of her presence examined the sky To greet the engrafted morning’s kiss.

O endless wonder! have we not A secret power over our disked love? In heaven shall we comb the hair of grass: Plug the story of the earth with sighs and wiles; Shall we rejoice in a feathery light?

But the damozel smiled dimly to behold Those golden feathers planted upon the sun, Breathed a thin breath, and lent her wings Back to whence she fluttered; without a sound, Sunset stared her gracefully knowing, While the sun looked round like a father or friend.

• Dante Gabriel Rossetti