Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE SURRENDER, by HENRY KING (1592-1669) Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: My once dear love! Hapless that I no more Last Line: As the divorced soul from her body parts. Subject(s): Love | ||||||||
My once dear love, hapless that I no more Must call thee so: the rich affections' store That fed our hopes, lies now exhaust and spent, Like sums of treasure unto bankrupts lent. We that did nothing study but the way To love each other, with which thoughts the day Rose with delight to us, and with them set, Must learn the hateful art, how to forget. We that did nothing wish that heaven could give Beyond ourselves, nor did desire to live Beyond that wish, all these now cancel must As if not writ in faith, but words and dust. Yet witness those clear vows which lovers make; Witness the chaste desires that never break Into unruly heats; witness that breast Which in thy bosom anchored his whole rest. 'Tis no default in us, I dare acquite Thy maiden faith, thy purpose fair and white As thy pure self. Cross planets did envy Us to each other, and heaven did untie Faster than vows could bind. O that the stars, When lovers meet, should stand opposed in wars! Since then some higher destinies command, Let us not strive, nor labor to withstand What is past help. The longest date of grief Can never yield a hope of our relief; And though we waste ourselves in moist laments, Tears may drown us, but not our discontents. Fold back our arms, take home our fruitless loves, That must new fortunes try, like turtle doves Dislodged from their haunts. We must in tears Unwind a love knit up in many years. In this last kiss I here surrender thee Back to thyself, so thou again art free; Thou in another, sad as that, resend The truest heart that lover e'er did lend. Now turn from each. So fare our severed hearts As the divorced soul from her body parts. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE INVENTION OF LOVE by MATTHEA HARVEY TWO VIEWS OF BUSON by ROBERT HASS A LOVE FOR FOUR VOICES: HOMAGE TO FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN by ANTHONY HECHT AN OFFERING FOR PATRICIA by ANTHONY HECHT LATE AFTERNOON: THE ONSLAUGHT OF LOVE by ANTHONY HECHT A SWEETENING ALL AROUND ME AS IT FALLS by JANE HIRSHFIELD A CONTEMPLATION UPON FLOWERS by HENRY KING (1592-1669) |
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