Evening Song (Poem By Sidney Lanier)

A sweet and simple poem about a shared moment, natural beauty, the hope for meaning. The comparison of the sun with "Egypt's pearl" is an allusion to a story in which Cleopatra, to display the vastness of her wealth to Anthony, representative of the Roman empire, dissolved a priceless pearl in wine, and drank it.

Transcript

Look off,

Dear love,

Across the sallow sands,

And mark yon meeting of the sun and sea.

How long they kiss in sight of all the lands,

Ah,

Longer,

Longer we.

Now in the sea's red vintage melts the sun,

Like Egypt's pearl dissolved in rosy wine,

And Cleopatra night drinks all,

Tis done.

Love,

Lay your hand in mine.

Come forth,

Sweet stars,

And comfort heaven's heart,

Glimmer ye waves round else's unlighted sands.

O night,

Divorce our sun and sky apart,

Never our lips,

Our hands.