Love is a breach in the walls, a broken gate, Where that comes in that shall not go again; Love sells the proud heart's citadel to Fate. They have known shame, who love unloved. Even then, When two mouths, thirsty each for each, find slaking, And agony's forgot, and hushed the crying Of credulous hearts, in heaven -- such are but taking Their own poor dreams within their arms, and lying Each in his lonely night, each with a ghost. Some share that night. But they know love grows colder, Grows false and dull, that was sweet lies at most. Astonishment is no more in hand or shoulder, But darkens, and dies out from kiss to kiss. All this is love; and all love is but this. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A FANCY FROM FONTENELLE by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE SOUL AND BODY by ANDREW MARVELL THE MOCKING-BIRD by FRANK LEBBY STANTON THE TWO RABBIS by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER A GULL GOES UP by LEONIE ADAMS QUATRAIN: HERRICK by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH |