Classic and Contemporary Poetry
VALENTINE TO A LITTLE GIRL, by JOHN HENRY NEWMAN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Little maiden, dost thou pine Last Line: Whom to serve, and whom to love. Subject(s): Girls; Holidays; Valentine's Day | ||||||||
LITTLE maiden, dost thou pine For a faithful Valentine? Art thou scanning timidly Every face that meets thine eye? Art thou fancying there may be Fairer face than thou dost see? Little maiden, scholar mine, Wouldst thou have a Valentine? Go and ask, my little child, Ask the Mother undefiled: Ask, for she will draw thee near, And will whisper in thine ear: -- "Valentine! the name is good; For it comes of lineage high, And a famous family: And it tells of gentle blood, Noble blood, -- and nobler still, For its owner freely pour'd Every drop there was to spill In the quarrel of his Lord. Valentine! I know the name, Many martyrs bear the same; And they stand in glittering ring Round their warrior God and King, -- Who before and for them bled, -- With their robes of ruby red, And their swords of cherub flame." Yes! there is a plenty there, Knights without reproach or fear, -- Such St. Denys, such St. George, Martin, Maurice, Theodore, And a hundred thousand more; Guerdon gain'd and warfare o'er, By that sea without a surge, And beneath the eternal sky, And the beatific Sun, In Jerusalem above, Valentine is every one; Choose from out that company Whom to serve, and whom to love. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FLOWERS WITHOUT FRUIT by JOHN HENRY NEWMAN THE PILLAR OF THE CLOUD by JOHN HENRY NEWMAN THE SIGN OF THE CROSS by JOHN HENRY NEWMAN A MARTYR CONVERT; A HYMN by JOHN HENRY NEWMAN A PICTURE by JOHN HENRY NEWMAN A THANKSGIVING by JOHN HENRY NEWMAN A VOICE FROM AFAR by JOHN HENRY NEWMAN A WORD IN SEASON by JOHN HENRY NEWMAN |
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