Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ON HIS SHADOW, by HENRY KING (1592-1669) Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Come, my shadow, constant, true Last Line: Unless I fall upon her. Subject(s): Shadows | ||||||||
COME, my shadow, constant, true, Stay, and do not fly me: When I court thee or would sue, Thou wilt not deny me. Female loves I find unkind And devoid of pity; Therefore I have changed my mind And to thee frame this ditty. Child of my body and that flame From whence our light we borrow, Thou continuest still the same In my joy or sorrow. Though thou lov'st the sunshine best Or enlightened places, Yet thou dost not fly, but rest, 'Midst my black disgraces. Thou wouldst have all happy days When thou art approaching, No cloud nor night to dim bright rays By their sad encroaching. Let but glimmering lights appear To banish night's obscuring, Thou wilt show thou harbourd'st near, By my side enduring; And, when thou art forced away By the sun's declining, Thy length is doubled, to repay Thy absence whilst he's shining. As I flatter not thee fair, So thou art not fading; Age nor sickness can impair Thy hue by fierce invading. Let the purest varnished clay Art can show, or Nature, View the shades they cast; and they Grow duskish like thy feature. 'Tis thy truth I most commend -- That thou art not fleeting: For, as I embrace my friend, So thou giv'st him greeting. If I strike, or keep the peace, So thou seem'st to threaten, And single blows by thy increase Leave my foe double beaten. As thou findst me walk or sit, Standing or down lying, Thou dost all my postures hit, Most apish in thy prying. When our actions so consent -- Expressions dumb, but local -- Words are needless complement, Else I could wish thee vocal. Hadst thou but a soul, with sense And reason sympathising, Earth could match, nor heaven dispense A mate so far enticing. Nay, when bedded in the dust, 'Mongst shades I have my biding, Tapers can see thy posthume trust Within my vault residing. Had heaven so pliant women made Or thou their souls couldst marry, I'd soon resolve to wed my shade; This love would ne'er miscarry. But they thy lightness only share; If shunned, the more they follow, And to pursuers peevish are As Daphne to Apollo. Yet this experience thou hast taught: A she-friend and an honour Like thee; nor that nor she is caught, Unless I fall upon her. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE ANIMAL INSIDE THE ANIMAL by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN DRIVING ALONGSIDE THE HOUSANTONIC RIVER ALONE ON A RAINY APRIL NIGHT by WILLIAM MATTHEWS NOCTURNE IN A MINOR KEY by CONRAD AIKEN SONATA IN PATHOS by CONRAD AIKEN I LOOKED FOR LIFE AND DID A SHADOW SEE by JAMES GALVIN A CONTEMPLATION UPON FLOWERS by HENRY KING (1592-1669) |
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