Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, I LIKE YOU AND I LOVE YOU, by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

I LIKE YOU AND I LOVE YOU, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: I like you met I love you, face to face
Last Line: And first he slew I love you, -- then himself.


I LIKE YOU met I LOVE YOU, face to face;
The path was narrow, and they could not pass.
I LIKE YOU smiled; I LOVE YOU cried, Alas!
And so they halted for a little space.

"Turn thou and go before," I LOVE YOU said,
"Down the green pathway, bright with many a flower;
Deep in the valley, lo! my bridal bower
Awaits thee." But I LIKE YOU shook his head.

Then while they lingered on the span-wide shelf
That shaped a pathway round the rocky ledge,
I LIKE YOU bared his icy dagger's edge,
And first he slew I LOVE YOU, -- then himself.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net