Edgar Allan Poe

To Zante

Summary

This poem reflects on the island, Zante, which derives its name from its association with beautiful flowers, symbolizing gentle and precious memories. The speaker reminisces about the radiant hours and scenes of past happiness experienced on the island, linking it to the memory of a cherished maiden who is no longer present. The island's beauty and the memories it holds have turned bittersweet, as the speaker mourns the loss and realizes that the island's allure can no longer bring joy. The feelings of transformation from beauty to sadness pervade the narrative, highlighting the themes of lost love and nostalgia.

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Fair isle, that from the fairest of all flowers,
Thy gentlest of all gentle names dost take
How many memories of what radiant hours
At sight of thee and thine at once awake!
How many scenes of what departed bliss!
How many thoughts of what entombed hopes!
How many visions of a maiden that is
No more—no more upon thy verdant slopes!
No more! alas, that magical sad sound
Transforming all! Thy charms shall please no more—
Thy memory no more! Accursed ground
Henceforth I hold thy flower-enamelled shore,
O hyacinthine isle! O purple Zante!
“Isola d’oro! Fior di Levante!”

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