Loving in truth, and fain in verse my love to show, That she, dear she, might take some pleasure of my pain, - Pleasure might cause her read, reading might make her know, Knowledge might pity win, and pity grace obtain, - I sought fit words to paint the blackest face of woe; Studying inventions fine, her wits to entertain, Oft turning others' leaves, see if thence would flow Some fresh and fruitful showers upon my sun-burned brain. But words came halting forth, wanting Invention's stay; Invention, Nature's child, fled step-dame Study's blows; And others' feet still seemed but stangers in my way. Thus, great with child to speak, and helpless in my throes, Biting my truant pen, beating myself for spite; "Fool," said my Muse to me, "look in thy heart, and write." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SNOW-STORM by RALPH WALDO EMERSON IN THE SHADOWS: 20 by DAVID GRAY (1838-1861) WINDY NIGHTS by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON THE PRINCESS: [BUGLE] SONG by ALFRED TENNYSON TO AN ISLE IN THE WATER by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS ODES: BOOK 1: ODE 10. TO THE MUSE by MARK AKENSIDE THE LAST MAN: METAPHOR OF RAIN by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES |