For aught that ever I could read Could ever hear by tale or history, The course of true love never did run smooth: But, either it was different in blood, Or else misgraffed in respect of years, Or else it stood upon the choice of friends; Or, if there were a sympathy in choice, War, death, or sickness did lay siege to it, Making it momentary as a sound, Swift as a shadow, short as any dream; Brief as the lightning in the collied night, That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth, And ere a man hath power to say, -- Behold! The jaws of darkness do devour it up: So quick bright things come to confusion. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AFTER AUGHRIM by ARTHUR GERALD GEOGHEGAN THE HIGHWAYMAN by ALFRED NOYES ON THE SITE OF A MULBERRY-TREE PLANTED BY SHAKESPEARE ... by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 71. THE CHOICE (1) by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI HARMONIES OF THE EVENING by CHARLES BAUDELAIRE THE LAST MAN: ROSILY DYING by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES DEDICATIONS AND INSCRIPTIONS: 12. TO YONE NOGUCHI by GORDON BOTTOMLEY |