Classic and Contemporary Poetry
CLEAR, COOL STREAMS THAT SOFTLY FLOW, by PETRARCH Poet's Biography Last Line: Boldly thou could'st aspire! Alternate Author Name(s): Petrarca, Francesco Subject(s): Love - Loss Of | ||||||||
Clear, cool streams that softly flow Where she lay in loveliness Who hath no peer on earth below; Gracious tree she deigned to bless, Leaning her sweet body down (I must sigh remembering); Ye beneath her dainty gown, Flowers and grasses covering Her angelic bosom o'er; Blessed and unclouded skies, Where Love opened my heart's door With the wonder of her eyes; Hearken to the words I sing Of my bitter sorrowing. Would that so my lot were cast, And thereunto the Heavens agree, For Love to close my eyes at last, And this my worthless body be Endowed with some kind grace of yours, What time my soul in nakedness Must pass beyond its earthly doors. Death will be without distress If such hopes with me remain When I cross the shadowy sea; In a quiet port again Will my weary spirit be, Cast this tortured flesh aside And in tranquil grave abide. Unto this familiar place Haply she once more may stray In her gentleness and grace; Where upon that blessed day We first met, she may be fain To seek me with glad, eager eyes, And, seeing me dust to dust again Amid the stones, may waft her sighs To Heaven for mercy and, by Love Inspired, may with such kindness pray On my behalf that up above No heart there be to say her nay, Whilst with her lovely veil she dries The tears that well into her eyes. Gratefully I mind me how On her bosom showered down Petals from a flowering bough; Some were folded in her gown, Some fell on those tresses pale, Like to pearls and burnished gold; Some upon the stream did sail; Some were gathered in earth's hold; Some the breezes bore around: "Love reigns here," they seemed to say, Whilst she, whom Love's halo crowned, I beheld upon that day In all meekness seated there, Of her glory unaware. With a sudden terror cowed, Often to myself I said: "She is unto Heaven vowed!" "When forgetfulness was bred In me by her godly grace, By the music of her mirth, Her words, the vision of her face, I thought I was no more on earth And, spirited so far away From common things, I did complain: "How came I here and on what day?" In these green meadows I remain Since then, it pleaseth me so best, For here alone my heart hath rest. If thou, O Song, were richly pearled As matcheth thy desire, From thy retreat unto the world Boldly thou could'st aspire! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ROSE AND MURRAY by CONRAD AIKEN THOUGH WE NO LONGER POSSESS IT by MARK JARMAN THE GLORY OF THE DAY WAS IN HER FACE by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON LOVE COME AND GONE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON CHAMBER MUSIC: 28 by JAMES JOYCE CHAMBER MUSIC: 33 by JAMES JOYCE A SCOTCH SONG by JOANNA BAILLIE SONNETS TO LAURA IN LIFE: 109 by PETRARCH |
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