Classic Poem

Many years ago she descended from the quiet shades of Paradise into our world, in a garland of fragrant roses, with a youthful smile, charming, naked, and proud of her innocent beauty. She brought with her unknown feelings, the harmony of heaven, and loyalty to dreams, — and her law was art for art's sake, and her command was to serve beauty.
But at her first steps they tore and trod into the dust her superb flowers, — and her beautiful virgin features were shrouded in a dark cloud of doubts and sorrow; and her former hymns are no more! The storm's breath carried tracklessly away her exultant sounds, — and her song breathes fire of her soul's anguish, and thorns wound her divine brow.