Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BODIES AND SOUL, by RENE FRANCOIS ARMAND PRUDHOMME


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BODIES AND SOUL, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: O! Happy fleshly lips that glow
Last Line: And in espousal burnt away!
Alternate Author Name(s): Sully-prudhomme
Subject(s): Bodies; Love; Soul


O! happy fleshly lips that glow
With kisses love-besought or ta'en,
And happy breasts whose breathings flow
To merge their sighs where they be fain.

O! happy hearts athrob with blood,
In loving kindness side by side,
And happy arms of loverhood
That hold each other fondly tied;

And happy fingers too that clasp,
And eyes that gaze, and bodies prone
That are at peace in slumber's hasp,
And nought at all when life is flown.

But what have souls but wretchéd spite?
That must for ever live aloof,
Like flames that glow with ardent light
Behind a lantern lustre-proof.

Against their prison's cloudy wall
They feel their burning kinship urge,
And vainly on their neighbour call
Whose ardour cannot meet and merge.

For these that are immortal held
Were better far a single day
Of life to feel their longing quelled
And in espousal burnt away!





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