I SING not Love prose-mated With Pride or Sense, soon sated, Where give and take are rated In terms of bargain-buyer; Nor Love that sells her dearly For so much shelter yearly, As Cupid's torch were merely To light the kitchen fire; Nor Love that lingers, longing, In reasoned absence, wronging The soul's desires, thronging As pleading angels bend; Nor Love that never misses The mate's estranged kisses, And is, of former blisses, Content to keep -- a friend; Nor prudish Love repressive That, lest it seem aggressive, With modesty excessive Deems maiden more than wife; Nor Love that fain would fetter The spirit with the letter, As there were something better Than holy human life. But Love, of Fate elected, That, coming unexpected, Can never be rejected -- The sea no shore can stop; That waits not to be bidden, And answers not when chidden, And can no more be hidden Than flame on mountain-top. Such Love need not beleaguer A garrison so meager With its commander eager To say the craven word, -- Who prays not heaven to send her A champion to defend her, Rejoicing to surrender When Love's demand is heard. Give me the Love O'erflowing, The fond eye's fervent glowing, The tranced heart out-going To meet both soul and sense; The Love whose years are reckoned By day, by hour, by second When some new wonder beckoned To some new joy intense. No calculated passion Of artificial fashion, But nature's daily ration -- The feast of Youth and Age; Defying Time's estranging Untiring and unchanging, Without a thought of ranging -- The song without the cage. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ONE PERSON: 16 by ELINOR WYLIE THIS IS NOT I by FRANCES DAVIS ADAMS AUTUMN by GUILLAUME APOLLINAIRE |