Thou art as tyrannous, so as thou art, As those whose beauties proudly make them cruel; For well thou know'st to my dear doting heart Thou art the fairest and most precious jewel. Yet, in good faith, some say that thee behold Thy face hath not the power to make love groan: To say they err I dare not be so bold, Although I swear it to myself alone. And, to be sure that is not false I swear, A thousand groans, but thinking on thy face, One on another's neck, do witness bear Thy black is fairest in my judgment's place. In nothing art thou black save in thy deeds, And thence this slander, as I think, proceeds. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE COLORED SOLDIERS by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR HEROIC LOVE by JAMES GRAHAM (1612-1650) THE SOULS OF THE SLAIN by THOMAS HARDY SOMETIMES by THOMAS SAMUEL JONES JR. LYRICS TO IANTHE (2). LAMENT by WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR ODE TO DUTY by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH |