And everything but sleep.
Here life has death for neighbour,
And far from eye or ear
Wan waves and wet winds labour,
Weak ships and spirits steer;
They drive adrift, and whither
They wot not who make thither;
But no such winds blow hither,
And no such things grow here.
No growth of moor or coppice,
No heather-flower or vine,
But bloomless buds of poppies,
Green grapes of Proserpine,
Pale beds of blowing rushes
Where no leaf blooms or blushes
Save this whereout she crushes
Proserpine (Greek equivalent: Persephone) is an ancient Roman goddess, the daughter of Ceres, the Roman agricultural goddess. Her legend says that she was abducted by Hades, and tricked into remaining in the Underworld for six months out of the year. She is associated with the cycles of life and death, growth and decay.
The Garden Of Proserpine