Classic and Contemporary Poetry
CAELICA: 45, by FULKE GREVILLE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Absence, the noble truce Last Line: Absence is pain. Alternate Author Name(s): Brooke, 1st Baron; Brooke, Lord Variant Title(s): Absence And Presence Subject(s): Absence; Separation; Isolation | ||||||||
Absence, the noble truce Of Cupid's war, Where, though desires want use, They honoured are, Thou art the just protection Of prodigal affection; Have thou the praise. When bankrupt Cupid braveth, Thy mines his credit saveth With sweet delays. Of wounds which presence makes With beauty's shot Absence the anguish slakes, But healeth not. Absence records the stories Wherein desire glories; Although she burn, She cherisheth the spirits, Where constancy inherits And passions mourn. Absence, like dainty clouds On glorious-bright, Nature's weak sense shrouds From harming light. Absence maintains the treasure Of pleasure unto pleasure, Sparing with praise. Absence doth nurse the fire, Which starves and feeds desire With sweet delays. Presence to every part Of beauty ties; Where wonder rules the heart, There pleasure dies. Presence plagues mind and senses With modesty's defences; Absence is free. Thoughts do in absence venture On Cupid's shadowed centre; They wink and see. But thoughts, be not so brave With absent joy; For you with that you have Yourself destroy. The absence which you glory Is that which makes you sorry, And burn in vain; For thought is not the weapon Wherewith thought's ease men cheapen, Absence is pain. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE EVENING OF THE MIND by DONALD JUSTICE CHRISTMAS AWAY FROM HOME by JANE KENYON THE PROBLEM by CHARLOTTE FISKE BATES WHEN A WOMAN LOVES A MAN by DAVID LEHMAN THIS UNMENTIONABLE FEELING by DAVID LEHMAN |
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