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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


A LOOKING-GLASS by THOMAS CAREW

Poet Analysis

First Line: THAT FLATT'RING GLASS, WHOSE SMOOTH FACE WEARS
Last Line: AND MELT THAT ICE TO FLOODS OF JOY.
Subject(s): MIRRORS;

THAT flatt'ring glass, whose smooth face wears
Your shadow, which a sun appears,
Was once a river of my tears.

About your cold heart they did make
A circle, where the briny lake
Congeal'd into a crystal cake.

Gaze no more on that killing eye,
For fear the native cruelty
Doom you, as it doth all, to die:

For fear lest the fair object move
Your froward heart to fall in love:
Then you yourself my rival prove.

Look rather on my pale cheeks pin'd,
There view your beauties, there you 'll find
A fair face, but a cruel mind.

Be not for ever frozen, coy!
One beam of love will soon destroy
And melt that ice to floods of joy.



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