IF I had never seen Thy sweet grave face, If I had never known Thy pride as of a queen, Yet would another's grace Have led me to her throne. I should have loved as well Not loving thee, My faith had been as strong Wrought by another spell; Her love had grown to be As thine for fire and song. Yet is our love a thing Alone, austere, A new and sacred birth That we alone could bring Through flames of faith and fear To pass upon the earth. As one who makes a rhyme Of his fierce thought, With momentary art May challenge change and time, So is the love we wrought Not greatest, but apart. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...REMEMBERING NAT TURNER by STERLING ALLEN BROWN DIRGE (1) by RALPH WALDO EMERSON THE SCRUTINY; SONG by RICHARD LOVELACE SUNDAY UP THE RIVER: 15 by JAMES THOMSON (1834-1882) LYNCHED by FRANK ANKENBRAND JR. THE GOLDEN ODES OF PRE-ISLAMIC ARABIA: IMR EL KAIS by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT GOD'S HUMOR by GAMALIEL BRADFORD INTRODUCTION TO A LADY'S ALBUM by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD |