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THE STATUE OF VICTOR HUGO.
16.
Puts forth wings that widen, breathes a brightening air,
Feeds on light and drinks of music, whence elated
All her sense grows godlike, seeing all depths made bare,
All the mists wherein before she sat belated
Shrink, till now the sunlight knows not if they were;
All this earth transformed is Eden recreated,
With the breath of heaven remurmuring in her hair.
17.
Deep in dew-dropt woodland folded fast and furled
Breathes the fragrant song whose burning dawn disperses
Darkness, like the surge of armies backward hurled,
Even as though the touch of spring’s own hand, that pierces
Earth with life’s delight, had hidden in the impearled
Golden bells and buds and petals of his verses
All the breath of all the flowers in all the world.
