Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A CONFESSION, by ALICE CARY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I know a little damsel Last Line: I shall false and faithless prove. Subject(s): Love | ||||||||
I KNOW a little damsel As light of foot as the air, And with smile as gay As th' sun o' th' May And clouds of golden hair. She sings with the larks at morning, And sings with the doves at e'en, And her cheeks they shine Like a rose on the vine, And her name is Charlamine. To plague me and to please me She knows a thousand arts, And against my will I love her still With all my heart of hearts! I know another damsel With eyelids lowly weighed, And so pale is she That she seems to me Like a blossom blown in the shade. Her hands are white as charity, And her voice is low and sweet, And she runneth quick To the sinful and sick, And her name is Marguerite. The broken and bowed in spirit She maketh straight and whole, And I sit at her knee And she sings to me, And I love her with my soul. I know a lofty lady, And her name is Heleanore. And th' king o' the sky In her lap doth lie When she sitteth at her door. Her shoulder is curved like an eagle's wing When he riseth on his way, And my two little maids They lay in braids Her dark locks day by day. Her heart in the folds of her kerchief It doth not fall or rise, And afar I wait At her royal gate, And I love her with my eyes! Now you that are wise in love-lore, Come teach your arts to me, For each of the darling damsels Is as sweet as she can be! And if I wed with Charlamine Of the airy little feet. I shall sicken and sigh, I shall droop and die, For my gentle Marguerite! And if I wed with Marguerite, Whom I so much adore, I shall long to go From her hand of snow To my Lady Heleanore! And if I wed with Heleanore, Whom with my eyes I love, 'Gainst all that is right, In my own despite, I shall false and faithless prove. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE INVENTION OF LOVE by MATTHEA HARVEY TWO VIEWS OF BUSON by ROBERT HASS A LOVE FOR FOUR VOICES: HOMAGE TO FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN by ANTHONY HECHT AN OFFERING FOR PATRICIA by ANTHONY HECHT LATE AFTERNOON: THE ONSLAUGHT OF LOVE by ANTHONY HECHT A SWEETENING ALL AROUND ME AS IT FALLS by JANE HIRSHFIELD A SPINSTER'S STINT by ALICE CARY |
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