Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE TWO LOVES, by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Smoothing soft the nestling head Last Line: "late or soon its own receives." Subject(s): God; Love | ||||||||
SMOOTHING soft the nestling head Of a maiden fancy-led, Thus a grave-eyed woman said: "Richest gifts are those we make, Dearer than the love we take That we give for love's own sake. "Well I know the heart's unrest; Mine has been the common quest, To be loved and therefore blest. "Favors undeserved were mine; At my feet as on a shrine Love has laid its gifts divine. "Sweet the offerings seemed, and yet With their sweetness came regret, And a sense of unpaid debt. "Heart of mine unsatisfied, Was it vanity or pride That a deeper joy denied? "Hands that ope but to receive Empty close; they only live Richly who can richly give. "Still," she sighed, with moistening eyes, "Love is sweet in any guise; But its best is sacrifice! "He who, giving, does not crave Likest is to Him who gave Life itself the loved to save. "Love, that self-forgetful gives, Sows surprise of ripened sheaves, Late or soon its own receives." | 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 AMY WENTWORTH; FOR WILLIAM BRADFORD by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER |
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