Lyric Poem · Nature

Homer's Hymn to the Moon

by Percy Bysshe Shelley

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1Daughters of Jove, whose voice is melody,

2Muses, who know and rule all minstrelsy

3Sing the wide-winged Moon! Around the earth,

4From her immortal head in Heaven shot forth,

5Far light is scattered — boundless glory springs;

6Where'er she spreads her many-beaming wings

7The lampless air glows round her golden crown.

8But when the Moon divine from Heaven is gone

9Under the sea, her beams within abide,

10Till, bathing her bright limbs in Ocean's tide,

11Clothing her form in garments glittering far,

12And having yoked to her immortal car

13The beam-invested steeds whose necks on high

14Curve back, she drives to a remoter sky

15A western Crescent, borne impetuously.

16Then is made full the circle of her light,

17And as she grows, her beams more bright and bright

18Are poured from Heaven, where she is hovering then,

19A wonder and a sign to mortal men.

20The Son of Saturn with this glorious Power

21Mingled in love and sleep — to whom she bore

22Pandeia, a bright maid of beauty rare

23Among the Gods, whose lives eternal are.

24Hail Queen, great Moon, white-armed Divinity,

25Fair-haired and favourable! thus with thee

26My song beginning, by its music sweet

27Shall make immortal many a glorious feat

28Of demigods, with lovely lips, so well

29Which minstrels, servants of the Muses, tell.

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“Homer's Hymn to the Moon” by Percy Bysshe Shelley — quilloak.com/poems/homers-hymn-to-the-moon

Quick facts

Poem: Homer's Hymn to the Moon
Poet: Percy Bysshe Shelley
Length: 29 lines
Form: Lyric Poem
Themes: Nature, Peace, Love

Craft notes

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Measured from the text on this page, not copied from a summary. Counts are approximate: syllables and rhymes come from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary, which models General American English, so dialect, older pronunciation, and performance can all change what you hear.

Shape: 29 lines · 4 stanzas of 4–12 lines
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Author record: Percy Bysshe Shelley1792–1822
Source record: PoetryDBHomer's Hymn to the Moon by percy-bysshe-shelley, PoetryDB transcription
Display decision: Full text · United States · reviewed 2026-07-18
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Lyric Poem Nature Peace Love

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