Edgar Allan Poe: Poems of Edgar Allan Poe

40. 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 sound
    Transfomring all! Thy charms shall please no more -
Thy memory no more! Accursed ground
    Henceforth I hold thy flower-enamelled shore,
O hyacinthine isle! O purple Zante!
    "Isoa d'oro! Fior di Levante!"

1837