Oh! City of the World

OH! city of world, most chastely fair;

In the far west, behold I sigh for thee.

And in my yearning love I do bethink me

Of bygone ages; of thy ruined fane,

Thy vanished splendor of a vanished day.

Oh! had I eagles’ wings I’d fly to thee,

And with my falling tears make moist thine earth.

I long for thee; what though indeed thy kings

Have passed forever; though where once uprose

Sweet balsam trees the serpent makes his nest.

Oh! that I might embrace thy dust, the sod

Were sweet as honey to my fond desire.