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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
PORPHYRIA'S LOVER, by ROBERT BROWNING Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: The rain set early in to-night Last Line: And yet god has not said a word! Subject(s): Murder; Villains In Literature | |||
THE rain set early in to-night, The sullen wind was soon awake, It tore the elm-tops down for spite, And did its worst to vex the lake: I listened with heart fit to break. When glided in Porphyria; straight She shut the cold out and the storm, And kneeled and made the cheerless grate Blaze up, and all the cottage warm; Which done, she rose, and from her form Withdrew the dripping cloak and shawl, And laid her soiled gloves by, untied Her hat and let the damp hair fall, And, last, she sat down by my side And called me. When no voice replied, She put my arm about her waist, And made her smooth white shoulder bare And all her yellow hair displaced, And, stooping, made my cheek lie there, And spread, o'er all, her yellow hair, Murmuring how she loved me -- she Too weak, for all her heart's endeavor, To set its struggling passion free From pride, and vainer ties dissever, And give herself to me forever. But passion sometimes would prevail, Nor could to-night's gay feast restrain A sudden thought of one so pale For love of her, and all in vain: So, she was come through wind and rain. Be sure I looked up at her eyes Happy and proud; at last I knew Porphyria worshipped me; surprise Made my heart swell, and still it grew While I debated what to do. That moment she was mine, mine, fair, Perfectly pure and good: I found A thing to do, and all her hair In one long yellow string I wound Three times her little throat around, And strangled her. No pain felt she; I am quite sure she felt no pain. As a shut bud that holds a bee, I warily oped her lids: again Laughed the blue eyes without a stain. And I untightened next the tress About her neck; her cheek once more Blushed bright beneath my burning kiss: I propped her head up as before, Only, this time my shoulder bore Her head, which droops upon it still: The smiling rosy little head, So glad it has its utmost will, That all it scorned at once is fled, And I, its love, am gained instead! Porphyria's love: she guessed not how Her darling one wish would be heard. And thus we sit together now, And all night long we have not stirred, And yet God has not said a word! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VILLON'S STRAIGHT TIP TO ALL CROSS COVES by FRANCOIS VILLON EPITAPH ON A TYRANT by WYSTAN HUGH AUDEN MY LAST DUCHESS; FERRRA by ROBERT BROWNING SOLILOQUY OF THE SPANISH CLOISTER by ROBERT BROWNING MACAVITY: THE MYSTERY CAT by THOMAS STEARNS ELIOT A SMUGGLER'S SONG by RUDYARD KIPLING BASE DETAILS by SIEGFRIED SASSOON SONNET: 94 by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE LORD BARRENSTOCK by FLORENCE MARGARET SMITH CHILDE ROLAND TO THE DARK TOWER CAME' by ROBERT BROWNING |
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