Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO MY MISTRESS, by FREDERICK LOCKER-LAMPSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO MY MISTRESS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Countess, I see the flying year
Last Line: Or spurn a poet such as I.
Alternate Author Name(s): Locker, Frederick
Subject(s): Time


COUNTESS, I see the flying year,
And feel how Time is wasting here:
Ay, more, he soon his worst will do,
And garner all your roses too.

It pleases Time to fold his wings
Around our best and fairest things;
He'll mar your blooming cheek, as now
He stamps his mark upon my brow.

The same mute planets rise and shine
To rule your days and nights as mine:
Once I was young and gay, and, see...
What I am now you soon will be.

And yet I boast a certain charm
That shields me from your worst alarm;
And bids me gaze, with front sublime,
On all these ravages of Time.

You boast a gift to charm the eyes,
I boast a gift that Time defies:
For mine will still be mine, and last
When all your pride of beauty's past.

My gift may long embalm the lures
Of eyes -- ah, sweet to me as yours!
For ages hence the great and good
Will judge you as I choose they should.

In days to come, the peer or clown,
With whom I still shall win renown,
Will only know that you were fair
Because I chanced to say you were.

Proud Lady! Scornful beauty mocks
At aged heads and silver locks;
But think awhile before you fly,
Or spurn a poet such as I.





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