Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


I LIKE YOU AND I LOVE YOU by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES

Poet Analysis

First Line: I LIKE YOU MET I LOVE YOU, FACE TO FACE
Last Line: AND FIRST HE SLEW I LOVE YOU, -- THEN HIMSELF.

I LIKE YOU met I LOVE YOU, face to face;
The path was narrow, and they could not pass.
I LIKE YOU smiled; I LOVE YOU cried, Alas!
And so they halted for a little space.

"Turn thou and go before," I LOVE YOU said,
"Down the green pathway, bright with many a flower;
Deep in the valley, lo! my bridal bower
Awaits thee." But I LIKE YOU shook his head.

Then while they lingered on the span-wide shelf
That shaped a pathway round the rocky ledge,
I LIKE YOU bared his icy dagger's edge,
And first he slew I LOVE YOU, -- then himself.



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