Is this your body that my fingers touch? And are these lips but lips, that can reveal Splendor of marching skies -- so much More than the flesh can feel? Under the savage heat and rude desire A sudden glory breaks, half-felt, half-seen; I rise upon a sea of singing fire That lifts and sweeps me clean. The rumble and the clash of war have gone Into my blood that shouts its battle-cry! Even your beauty keeps me struggling on Toward that for which men die. You hold me closely, yet you set me free For unknown battles with a great release; You are my red desire of victory And my white dream of peace. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE COW IN APPLE TIME by ROBERT FROST LAMENT by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON MNEMOSYNE by TRUMBULL STICKNEY THE LIGHT OF ASIA by EDWIN ARNOLD EMBLEMS OF LOVE: 21. 'TIS CONSTANCY THAT GAINS THE PRIZE by PHILIP AYRES THE GRAVE OF COLUMBUS by JOANNA BAILLIE GREENES FUNERALLS: SONNET 6 by RICHARD BARNFIELD PROLOGUE. INTENDED FOR A DRAMATIC PIECE OF KING EDWARD THE FOURTH by WILLIAM BLAKE |