Sonnet

Written In Holy Week At Genoa

Oscar Wilde

I Wandered in Scoglietto's green retreat,
    The oranges on each o'erhanging spray
    Burned as bright lamps of gold to shame the day;
Some startled bird with fluttering wings and fleet
Made snow of all the blossoms, at my feet
    Like silver moons the pale narcissi lay:
    And the curved waves that streaked the sapphire bay
Laughed i' the sun, and life seemed very sweet.
Outside the young boy-priest passed singing clear,
    "Jesus the Son of Mary has been slain,
    O come and fill his sepulchre with flowers."
Ah, God! Ah, God! those dear Hellenic hours
    Had drowned all memory of Thy bitter pain,
    The Cross, the Crown, the Soldiers, and the Spear.