• Venice, thou Siren of sea cities, wrought
      By mirage, built on water, stair o’er stair,
      Of sunbeams and cloud shadows, phantom-fair,
    With naught of earth to mar thy sea-born thought!
    Thou floating film upon the wonder-fraught
      Ocean of dreams! Thou hast no dream so rare
      As are thy sons and daughters,—they who wear
    Foam flakes of...

  • From “View from the Euganean Hills”

      ALL is bright and clear and still
    Round the solitary hill.

    Beneath is spread like a green sea
    The waveless plain of Lombardy,
    Bounded by the vaporous air,
    Islanded by cities fair;
    Underneath day’s azure eyes,
    Ocean’s nursling, Venice, lies,—
    A peopled labyrinth of walls,
    ...