Classic Poem

I.

The sunless world seemed full of sound of doom;
Love's reign seemed well nigh done:
There came a bright-eyed sibyl through the gloom,
And with her came the sun.

II.

Upon her brow the glory of youth was set
And from her eyes the morn
Flashed till it pierced the clouds of sombre jet,
Till laughter and song were born.

III.

Before she came, all flowerless seemed the earth,
A silent waste of woes:
But with her came the silver flute of mirth
And with her came the rose.

IV.

Yea, round her footstep fell the fostering dews;
Gold-girdled shone the shore;
The fields were jewelled in a thousand hues,
And death seemed slain once more.