Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE DESPAIRING LOVER, by WILLIAM WALSH (1663-1707) Poet's Biography First Line: Distracted with care / for phyllis the fair Last Line: To his cottage again. Subject(s): Despair; Love - Unrequited | ||||||||
Distracted with care, For Phillis the fair; Since nothing could move her, Poor Damon, her lover, Resolves in despair No longer to languish, Nor bear so much anguish; But, mad with his love, To a precipice goes; Where, a leap from above Would soon finish his woes. When in rage he came there, Beholding how steep The sides did appear, And the bottom how deep; His torments projecting, And sadly reflecting, That a lover forsaken A new love may get; But a neck, when once broken, Can never be set: And, that he could die Whenever he would; But, that he could live But as long as he could; How grievous soever The torment might grow, He scorn'd to endeavour To finish it so. But bold, unconcern'd At thoughts of the pain, He calmly return'd To his cottage again. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONNET by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON TUTTO E SCIOLTO by JAMES JOYCE APPULDURCOMBE PARK by AMY LOWELL TALE OF THE MAYOR'S SON by GLYN MAXWELL ELEGY FOR AN ENEMY by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET ESSAY ON WHAT I THINK ABOUT MOST by ANNE CARSON RIVALRY IN LOVE by WILLIAM WALSH (1663-1707) A SONG TO PHILLIS by WILLIAM WALSH (1663-1707) AGAINST MARRIAGE TO HIS MISTRESS by WILLIAM WALSH (1663-1707) |
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