Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, FOURTH BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 15, by THOMAS CAMPION


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FOURTH BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 15, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Are you what your fair looks express?
Last Line: For pure meetings are most sweet.
Variant Title(s): "are You, What Your Faire Lookes Expresse?"";
Subject(s): Beauty; Courtship; Truth


Are you what your faire lookes expresse?
Oh then be kinde:
From law of Nature they digresse
Whose forme sutes not their minde:
Fairenesse seene in th' outward shape
Is but th' inward beauties Ape.
Eyes that of earth are mortall made,
What can they view?
All's but a colour or a shade,
And neyther alwayes true.
Reasons sight, that is eterne,
Ev'n the substance can discerne.
Soule is the Man; for who will so
The body name?
And to that power all grace we owe
That deckes our living frame.
What, or how, had housen bin,
But for them that dwell therein?
Love in the bosome is begot,
Not in the eyes;
No beauty makes the eye more hot,
Her flames the spright surprise:
Let our loving mindes then meete,
For pure meetings are most sweet.





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