Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, GREETING AND DEPARTURE, by JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

GREETING AND DEPARTURE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: My heart throbbed high: to horse, away then!
Last Line: To love, ah gods, what happiness!
Subject(s): Farewell; Parting


MY heart throbbed high: to horse, away then!
Swift as a hero to the fight!
Earth in the arms of evening lay then,
And o'er the mountains hung the night,
Now could I see like some huge giant
The haze-enveloped oak-tree rise,
While from the thicket stared defiant
The darkness with its hundred eyes.

The cloud-throned moon from his dominion
Peered drowsily through veils of mist.
The wind with gently-wafting pinion
Gave forth a rustling strange and whist.
With shapes of fear the night was thronging
But all the more my courage glowed;
My soul flamed up in passionate longing
And hot my heart with rapture flowed.

I saw thee; melting rays of pleasure
Streamed o'er me from thy tender glance,
My heart beat only to thy measure,
I drew my breath as in a trance.
The radiant hue of spring caressing
Lay rosy on thy upturned face,
And love—ye gods, how rich the blessing!
I dared not hope to win such grace.

To part—alas what grief in this is!—
In every look thy heart spoke plain.
What ecstasy was in thy kisses!
What changing thrill of joy and pain!
I went. One solace yet to capture,
Thine eyes pursued in sweet distress.
But to be loved, what holy rapture!
To love, ah gods, what happiness!





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