Classic and Contemporary Poetry
LOVE'S SECRET SPRINGS, by ALICE CARY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: In asking how I came to choose Last Line: Through time into eternity. Subject(s): Love | ||||||||
IN asking how I came to choose This flower that makes my brow to shine, You seem to say, you did not lose Your choice, my friend, when I had mine! And by your lifted brow, exclaim, "What charms have charmed you? name their name!" Nay, pardon me -- I cannot say These are the charms, and those the powers, And being in a trance one day, I took her for my flower of flowers. Love doth not flatter what he gives -- But here, sir, are some negatives. 'T is not the little milk-white hands That grace whatever work they do; 'T is not the braided silken bands That shade the eyes of tender blue; And not the voice so low and sweet That holds me captive at her feet. 'T is not in frowns, knit up with smiles, Wherewith she scolds me for my sins, Nor yet in tricksy ways nor wiles That I can say true love begins! Out of such soil it did not grow; It was, -- and that is all I know. 'T is not her twinkling feet so small, Nor shoulder glancing from her sleeve, Nor yet her virtues, one nor all -- Love were not love to ask our leave; She was not woed, nor was I won -- What draws the dew-drop to the sun? Pardon me, then, I cannot tell, -- Nor can you hope to understand, -- Why I should love my love so well; Nor how, upon this border land, It fell that she should go with me Through time into eternity. | 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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