The Doves Of Venus

The dull earth swung in silence o’er,

    A dreamless world, a dreary star,

Until the doves of Venus bore

    To Thessaly her ivory car.

She whispered to the sea and air,

    And lightly with her wand she smote

The solid earth, till everywhere

    The birds gave forth a sweeter note.

Whereat the sun did brighter shine,

    More richly did the roses blow,

And like deep peace, a joy divine

    Did fill the souls of men below.

And still are showered her magic arts

    On man and maiden hand in hand,

Who hear a music in their hearts

    Which none but they can understand.

A sweeter perfume sheds the rose,

    A deeper azure tints the sky,

And softly with the daylight’s close

    The doves of Venus hover nigh.

Thus oft, to earth doth she return

    To strip the scales from mortal eyes,

And sends us Love, that we may learn

    How Earth may yet be Paradise.