What means the mist opaque that veils these eyes; <br />Why does yon threat'ning tempest shroud the day? <br />Why does thy altar, Venus, fade away, <br />And on my breast the dews of horror rise? <br />Phaon is false! be dim ye orient Skies; <br />And let black Erebus succeed your ray; <br />Let clashing thunders roll, and lightning play; <br />Phaon is false! and hopeless Sappho dies! <br />"Farewell! my Lesbian love, you might have said," <br />Such sweet remembrance had some pity prov'd, <br />"Or coldly this, farewell, Oh! Lesbian maid!" <br />No task severe, for one so fondly lov'd! <br />The gentle thought had sooth'd my wand'ring shade, <br />From life's dark valley, and its thorns remov'd!<br /><br />Mary Darby Robinson<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/sonnet-xxxv-what-means-the-mist/
