Love, in thy youth, a stranger, knelt to thee, With cheeks all red and golden locks all curled, And cried, "Sweet child, if thou wilt worship me, Thou shalt possess the kingdoms of the world." But you looked down and said, "I know you not, Nor want I other kingdom than my soul." Till Love in shame, convicted of his plot, Left you and turned him to some other goal. And this discomfiture which you had seen Long served you for your homily and boast, While, of your beauty and yourself the queen, You lived a monument of vain love crossed, With scarce a thought of that which might have been To scare you with the ghost of pleasures lost. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: ALBERT SCHIRDING by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE ARCHITECT (2) by KAREN SWENSON LEXINGTON [APRIL 19, 1775] by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES THE SERGEANT'S WEDDIN' by RUDYARD KIPLING TO THE UNKNOWN EROS: BOOK 1: 16. A FAREWELL by COVENTRY KERSEY DIGHTON PATMORE LOVE AND AGE by THOMAS LOVE PEACOCK |