Love ere he bleeds, an eagle in high skies, Has earth beneath his wings: from reddened eve He views the rosy dawn. In vain they weave The fatal web below while far he flies. But when the arrow strikes him, there's a change. He moves but in the track of his spent pain, Whose red drops are the links of a harsh chain, Binding him to the ground, with narrow range. A subtle serpent then has Love become. I had the eagle in my bosom erst: Henceforward with the serpent I am cursed. I can interpret where the mouth is dumb. Speak, and I see the side-lie of a truth. Perchance my heart may pardon you this deed: But be no coward: -- you that made Love bleed, You must bear all the venom of his tooth? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SHEPHERD BOY'S SONG, FR. THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS by JOHN BUNYAN THE ECSTASY [EXTASIE] by JOHN DONNE COUNT THAT DAY LOST by MARY ANN EVANS AFTER THE LAST BREATH (J.H. 1813-1904) by THOMAS HARDY SUDDEN LIGHT by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI INVITATION by JOHANNA AMBROSIUS SKYFARER by ANNA EMILIA BAGSTAD |