Curving on a sky imbrued with colour,

Drifted over Fiesole by twilight,

Came she, our new crescent of a hair’s-breadth.

Full she flared it, lamping Samminiato,

Rounder ’twixt the cypresses and rounder,

Perfect till the nightingales applauded.

Now, a piece of her old self, impoverished.

Hard to greet, she traverses the houseroofs.

Hurries with unhandsome thrift of silver,

Goes dispiritedly, glad to finish.