Author: Ella Wheeler Wilcox

---

    A waft of perfume from a bit of lace
         Moved lightly by a passing woman's hand;
    And on the common street, a sensuous grace
         Shone suddenly from some lost time and land.

    Tall structures changed to dome and parapet;
         The stern-faced Church an oracle became;
    In sheltered alcoves marble busts were set;
         And on the wall frail Lais wrote her name.

    Phryne before her judges stood at bay,
         Fearing the rigour of Athenian laws;
    Till Hyperides tore her cloak away,
         And bade her splendid beauty plead its cause.

    Great Alexander walking in the dusk,
         Dreamed of the hour when Greek with Greek should meet;
    From Thais' window attar breathed, and musk:
         His footsteps went no farther down the street.

    Faint and more faint the pungent perfume grew;
         Of wall and parapet remained no trace.
    Temple and statue vanished from the view:
         The city street again was commonplace.

---

Type of Poem: Lyric Poem

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem beautifully illustrates the transformative power of sensory experiences, particularly scent, in evoking vivid memories and transporting the speaker to a different time and place. The poet uses the olfactory image of a "waft of perfume from a bit of lace" as a catalyst to shift from the mundane reality of a "common street" to a vision of an ancient, romanticised Greek world.

The poem is structured in four quatrains, each presenting a new scene or image, thus taking the reader on a journey through time and space. The tone is nostalgic and sensory, effectively drawing upon the reader’s own experiences and emotions. The poem relies heavily on historical and mythical allusions to bring its scenes to life, referencing figures such as Lais, Phryne, Hyperides, and Alexander the Great, and historical events like Phryne's trial.

The most notable literary device is the sensory imagery, particularly olfactory, used to trigger the entire narrative shift. The poem also employs a consistent end rhyme scheme, which gives it a rhythmic flow and musicality. The poem's closing lines return the reader to the original setting, emphasising the ephemeral and transient nature of these sensory-induced illusions. This cyclical nature of the poem beautifully encapsulates the fleeting yet profound impact of sensory experiences on our perception of reality.