OH! woe is me for beauty idly blown! And woe for passionate youth and joys that wait! And woe for foolish love that is undone By woman's fear, and fortune come too late! And woe for empty words and hours that were Squandered in weeping! Woe, because of Death Who was at hand, and, while joy languished near Fearing to enter, quickly from its sheath Drew out his sword and laid its point unto That virgin breast, and there in stern embrace Did all that happiness had dared not do, Rifling the treasures of that holy place, And heeding not Love's shriek. Alas, poor Love! Death will not spare what thou hast spared to prove. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WHEN I PERUSE THE CONQUER'D FAME by WALT WHITMAN THE BLASPHEMER'S WARNING; A LAY OF ST. ROMWOLD by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 41. TO THE 'UNKNOWABLE' GOD by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) MATRIMONIAL MELODIES: 6. TO ANY WIFE by BERTON BRALEY SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 9 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING TWO ARGOSIES (ANTONIO'S AND SHAKESPEARE'S) by WALLACE BRUCE THE LOVER TO HIS MISTRESS ON HER BIRTHDAY by THOMAS CAMPBELL |