Quote#World
The moon, a sweeping scimitar, dipped in the stormy straits
Quote byStephen Vincent Benét · 1898–1943
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Winged Man.
English (original)
The moon, a sweeping scimitar, dipped in the stormy straits, The dawn, a crimson cataract, burst through the eastern gates, The cliffs were robed in scarlet, the sands were cinnabar, Where first two men spread wings for flight and dared the hawk afar.
— Stephen Vincent Benét
More from Stephen Vincent Benét
And then a light winked like an eye. . . . And very many miles away
It is not given me to trace The lovely laughter of that face
The iron ice stung like a goad, Slashing the torn shoes from my feet, And all the air was bitter sleet. And all the land was cramped with snow, Steel-strong and fierce and glimmering wan, Like pale plains of obsidian. — And yet I strove — …
The fight was done. Even gods tire Of fighting...
Life was a storm to wander through. I took the wrong way. Good and well, At least my feet sought out not Hell!
Like a great word once known and lost And meaning all things.