#1 The Red Afterglow
1) Lo, the red afterglow,
Against the sky blue!
Is it the blush of Heaven,
As on a maiden's cheeks,
When she catches sight
Of her coming lover?
2) Lo, the red afterglow,
Against the sky blue!
Is it the fire of bivouac
Kindled by Nymphs and Naiads
On the banks of Milky Way
Holding a celestial picnic?
3) Lo, the red afterglow,
Against the sky blue!
Is it the ruddy gauze veil
That veiled the face of Juno
On her holy nuptial day
When She married Jupiter?
4) Lo, the red afterglow,
Against the sky blue!
Is it the fire of Mt. Olympus
Stolen by noble Prometheus,
And in his careless down-flight
Set the fleecy clouds aflame?
5) Lo, the red afterglow,
Against the sky blue!
Is it the blood of the heroes
That died on battlefields
In the sacred defense
Of their dear motherland?
6) Lo, the red afterglow,
Against the sky blue!
Is it the Isle of Coral
Removed by a white witch
From the Pacific deep
To the heavens above?
7) Lo, the red afterglow,
Against the sky blue!
Is it a cluster of peach trees
Their blossoms in full bloom,
Grown by the daughters of God
And watered with nectar?
8) Lo, the red afterglow,
Against the sky blue!
Is it the rouge of Flora
Spread all over the sky
By her frightened maids
In escape from her anger?
9) Lo, the red afterglow,
Against the sky blue!
Is it a large piece of sponge
Soaked through with claret
Upset from the Holy Grail
By a rash cosmic pilot?
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