Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LOVE, by THOMAS HOOD


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LOVE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: O love! What art thou, love? The ace of hearts
Last Line: I'm not the first that love hath led astray.
Subject(s): Love - Nature Of


O LOVE! What art thou, Love? the ace of hearts,
Trumping Earth's kings and Queens, and all its suits;
A player masquerading many parts
In life's odd carnival;—A boy that shoots,
From ladies' eyes, such mortal woundy darts;
A gardener, pulling heart's-ease up by the roots;
The Puck of Passion—partly false—part real—
A marriageable maiden's "beau-ideal."

O Love, what art thou, Love? a wicked thing,
Making green misses spoil their work at school;
A melancholy man, cross-gartering?
Grave ripe-faced wisdom made an April fool?
A youngster tilting at a wedding-ring?
A sinner, sitting on a cuttie stool?
A Ferdinand de Something in a hovel,
Helping Matilda Rose to make a novel?

O Love! what art thou, Love? one that is bad
With palpitations of the heart—like mine—
A poor bewildered maid, making so sad
A necklace of her garters—fell design!
A poet gone unreasonably mad,
Ending his sonnets with a hempen line?
O Love!—but whither now? forgive me, pray;
I'm not the first that Love hath led astray.





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