Ballatetta °

The light became her grace and dwelt among

Blind eyes and shadows that are formed as men;

Lo, how the light doth melt us into song:

The broken sunlight for a healm she beareth °

Who has my heart in jurisdiction.

In wild-wood never fawn nor fallow fareth °

So silent light; no gossamer is spun °

So delicate as she is, when the sun

Drives the clear emeralds from the bended grasses

Lest they should parch too swiftly, where she passes.

Ezra Pound

Notes for students:

Ballatetta = "little ballad" in Italian

healm = helm

fallow = a type of deer

gossamer = spider web