Francesca's life that was a limpid flame <br />Agleam against the shimmer of a sword, <br />Which falling, quenched the flame in blood outpoured <br />To free the house of Rimino from shame — <br />Francesca's death that blazed aloft her name <br />In guilty fadeless glory, hurling toward <br />The windy darkness where the tempest roared, <br />Her spirit burdened by the weight of blame — <br />Francesca's life and death are mirrored here <br />Forever, on the face of her who stands <br />Illumined and intent beside the blaze, <br />Grown one with it, and reading without fear <br />That they shall fare upon the selfsame ways, <br />Plucked forth and cast away by bloody hands.<br /><br />Sara Teasdale<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-a-picture-of-eleonora-duse-with-the-greek-fire-in/
