TYRIAN dye why do you wear, You whose cheeks best scarlet are? Why do you fondly pin Pure linens o'er your skin, Your skin that's whiter far?-- Casting a dusky cloud before a star. Why bears your neck a golden chain? Did Nature make your hair in vain, Of gold most pure and fine? With gems why do you shine? They, neighbours to your eyes, Show but like Phosphor when the sun doth rise. I would have all my mistress' parts Owe more to Nature than the arts; I would not woo the dress, Or one whose nights give less Contentment than the day; She's fair whose beauty only makes her gay. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE ROOM OF MIRRORS by EDGAR LEE MASTERS OCTAVES: 12 by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON HAD I THE CHOICE (AFTER WALT WHITMAN) by GEORGE SANTAYANA AN ANCIENT PROVERB by WILLIAM BLAKE THE SKELETON OF THE FUTURE; AT LENIN'S TOMB by CHRISTOPHER MURRAY GRIEVE ROBIN REDBREAST by MOTHER GOOSE |