Classic and Contemporary Poetry
STELLA'S BIRTHDAY, 1718, by JONATHAN SWIFT Poet's Biography First Line: Stella this day is thirty-four Last Line: To split my worship too in twain. Variant Title(s): On Stella's Birthday Subject(s): Aging; Johnson, Esther (1681-1728); Love; Middle Age | ||||||||
STELLA this day is thirty-four, (We shan't dispute a year or more:) However, Stella, be not troubled; Although thy size and years are doubled Since first I saw thee at sixteen, The brightest virgin on the green; So little is thy form declined; Made up so largely in thy mind. O, would it please the gods to split Thy beauty, size, and years, and wit! No age could furnish out a pair Of nymphs so graceful, wise, and fair; With half the lustre of your eyes, With half your wit, your years, and size. And then, before it grew too late, How should I beg of gentle fate (That either nymph might have her swain) To split my worship too in twain. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WAKING THE MORNING DREAMLESS AFTER LONG SLEEP by JANE HIRSHFIELD PERISHABLE, IT SAID by JANE HIRSHFIELD QUICKLY AGING HERE by DENIS JOHNSON TWENTY QUESTIONS by DAVID LEHMAN EAST OF CARTHAGE: AN IDYLL by KHALED MATTAWA FIVE ACCOUNTS OF A MONOGAMOUS MAN by WILLIAM MEREDITH TWO SONGS OF PEACE: 2 by YEHUDA AMICHAI A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG NYMPH GOING TO BED by JONATHAN SWIFT |
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