Classic and Contemporary Poetry
HORTENSE, by HEINRICH HEINE Poet's Biography First Line: Once I thought each kiss a woman Last Line: Our passing fondness ended. Subject(s): Dreams; Kisses; Life; Love; Nightmares | ||||||||
1. ONCE I thought each kiss a woman Gives us, or receives instead, By some influence superhuman Was from old predestined. I both took and gave back willing Kisses then as earnestly As if I were but fulfilling Actions of necessity. Kisses are superfluous, -- this I Have discover'd on life's stage, And with small concern now kiss I, Heedless of the surplusage. 2. BESIDE the corner of the street We stood in fond communion For full an hour, and talked about Our spirits' loving union. We loved each other -- this we said A hundred times repeating; Beside the corner of the street We stood, and went on greeting The Goddess of Occasion, brisk As waiting maids, and sprightly, Pass'd by that way and saw us stand And smiled, and went on lightly. 3. IN all my dreams by daytime, In all my watchings nightly, Thy sweet delicious laughter Rings through my spirit lightly Remember'st Montmorency, Where, on the donkey riding, Thou fell'st among the thistles, From off the saddle gliding? The ass stood still, the thistles Demurely looking after, -- I never shall forget, love, Thy sweet delicious laughter. 4. (She speaks.) IN the garden fair a tree stands, And an apple hangeth there, And around the trunk a serpent Coils himself, and I can ne'er From the serpent's eyes enchanting Turn away my troubled sight, And he whispers words alluring, And enthrals me with delight. (The other one speaks.) 'Tis the fruit of life thou spyest, -- Its delicious flavour taste, That thy life until thou diest May not be for ever waste! Darling dove, sweet child, no sighing! Quickly taste, and never fear; Follow my advice, relying On thy aunt's sage counsel, dear 5. ON my newly-tuned guitar I Play new tunes that seem much fitter Old the text is, for the words are Solomon's: A woman's bitter. To her husband she is faithless, And she treats her friend with malice; Wormwood are the last remaining Drops in love's once-golden chalice. Tell me, is the ancient legend Of the curse of sin no libel? Did the serpent bring it on thee, As recorded in the Bible? Creeping on the earth, the serpent Lurks in every bush around thee, Still, as formerly, caresses, And her hisses still confound thee. Ah, how cold and dark 'tis growing! Round the sun the ravens hover Croakingly, and love and rapture Now for evermore are over. 6. THE bliss that thou didst falsely pledge For but a short time cheated; Thine image, like a vision false, Soon from my bosom fleeted. The morning came, the mist soon fled Before the sun's rays splendid; And wellnigh ere it had commenced, Our passing fondness ended. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VARIATIONS: 14 by CONRAD AIKEN VARIATIONS: 18 by CONRAD AIKEN LIVE IT THROUGH by DAVID IGNATOW A DREAM OF GAMES by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN THE DREAM OF WAKING by RANDALL JARRELL APOLOGY FOR BAD DREAMS by ROBINSON JEFFERS GIVE YOUR WISH LIGHT by ROBINSON JEFFERS |
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