Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ON HIS MISTRESS CROSSING THE SEA, by THOMAS CAREW


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON HIS MISTRESS CROSSING THE SEA, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Farewell, fair saint, may not the sea and wind
Last Line: Whilst both contribute to your own undoing.
Variant Title(s): To His Mistress Going To Sea
Subject(s): Sea Voyages


FAREWELL, fair Saint, may not the sea and wind
Swell like the hearts and eyes you leave behind,
But calm and gentle as the looks you bear,
Smile in your face and whisper in your ear;
Let no bold billow offer to arise,
That it may never look upon your eyes,
Lest wind and wave, enamoured of your form,
Should throng and crowd themselves into a storm;
But if it be your fate, vast seas, to love;
Of my becalmèd breast learn how to move;
Move then, but in a gentle lover's pace,
No furrows nor no wrinkles in your face;
And ye, fierce winds, see that you tell your tale
In such a breath as may but fill her sail;
So while you court her each your several way,
You may her safely to her port convey;
And lose but in a noble way of wooing,
Whilst both contribute to your own undoing.





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