Sonnet X

Alan Seeger

A splendor, flamelike, born to be pursued,

With palms extent for amorous charity

And eyes incensed with love for all they see,

A wonder more to be adored than wooed,

On whom the grace of conscious womanhood

Adorning every little thing she does

Sits like enchantment, making glorious

A careless pose, a casual attitude;

Around her lovely shoulders mantle-wise

Hath come the realm of those old fabulous queens

Whose storied loves are Art’s rich heritage,

To keep alive in this our latter age

That force that moving through sweet Beauty’s means

Lifts up Man’s soul to towering enterprise.