Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ENVIE, by WILLIAM MOTHERWELL


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ENVIE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Ane plante there is of the deidliest pouir
Last Line: Fashion is a hert like the foul fiend's awin!
Alternate Author Name(s): Brown, Isaac
Subject(s): Envy


ANE plante there is of the deidliest pouir
Quhilk flourischis deeply in the hert;
Its lang rutis creip and fald outoure
Ilka vive and breathen part:
Lustilie bourgenis the weid anon
Till hert hath rottit and lyf hath flown.

Blak is the sap of its baleful stem,
Lyk funeral blicht its leavis do fal;
In its moisture is quenchit luve's pure flame,
It drappis rust on inmost saul:
Lustilie bourgenis the weid anon,
Till hert hath rottit and lyf hath flown.

Evir it flourischis meikel and hie,
Nae stay, nae hindraunce will it bruik;
In ae nicht sprynging up, a burdlie tree,
Schedding its bale at ae single luik:
Lustilie bourgenis the weid anon,
Till hert hath rottit and lyf hath flown.

It canna be kythit to the gudely sun,
It pynyth sae at his nobil sicht;
It shrinkyth quyte like a thing undone
Quhan luikit on by the blessit licht:
In hert whence heevinlie luve hath gone
Thilke evil weid aye bourgenis on.

Fell Envie's th' plant of mortal pouir
Quhilk flourischis grenelye in the hert --
Raining the slawe and poisonous shouir
Quhilk cankereth the vertuous part:
Black Envie wherever its seed is sawin,
Fashion is a hert like the foul Fiend's awin!





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