Sonnet XXXV: What Means the Mist

Read 'Sonnet XXXV: What Means the Mist' by 'Mary Darby Robinson' and provide your summary and literary analysis in the comments section below.

Sonnet XXXV: What Means the Mist by Mary Darby Robinson

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

Form: Italian Sonnet Comments

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