Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A MONUMENT TO LOVE, by ELSIE ROBINSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A MONUMENT TO LOVE, by                    
First Line: Where are you, darling?
Last Line: Shall be your monument!
Subject(s): Hearts


Where are you, darling?
Was it yesterday you died,
Or have long ages passed
Since you went from my side
And left me here, alone?

How strange life is!
We who have buried
Half our hearts
Must live two lives
In one.

One part of me
Lives here --
Works, plays, loves, laughs,
As if it knew
No other life but this.
Yet, all the while
Unseen by those who watch,
My secret self
Goes groping on your trail;
Goes calling -- calling.
Do you ever hear?
Or, hearing, know
How I still love you, dear!

How can I tell you
That our love goes on
Unchanged?
How prove to all the world
That love is worth
All that it costs in pain?
Easy enough to raise
A monument to grief.
But how shall one
Build monuments to joy?
Erect a shaft
To pride and gratitude?
Show, by some symbol
Or heroic act,
All that love meant
In those lost years -- and now?

A slab of stone?
No; stone's too cold
And dead.
Your body died
And, with it, half my heart,
But not one throb
Of our warm love has cooled.
It burns as brightly
As before you passed.
Why mark a living love
With piles of cold, dead stone?

A wreath of flowers?
But funeral flowers are sad.
Cut off, they wither
And their sweetness fades.
If I should grieve,
Wear withered flowers
On my aching heart,
Then all the world would say,
"She's sorry that she loved;
"She mourns her own lost joy.
"Love spoils a life, sometimes.
"Be careful how you love!"

Cold stones
And faded flowers?
No. Such things betray
And shut you out;
Make death seem final;
Seem to say
That love's not worth
The price one has to pay.

Not stones and flowers.
Then what can I do
To show the world, and you,
That love goes on triumphant;
That love always pays?
DEAR, I CAN LIVE!
OF MY OWN LIFE
I'LL BUILD YOUR MONUMENT!

Poor stuff, my life;
For in myself
I'm neither brave, nor good,
Nor kind, nor wise.
But love can turn
My weakness into strength,
Cleanse me of lies,
And teach me tenderness,
And keep me patient
Through the cruelest pain.
Yes, love can work
That shining miracle;
AND MY STRONG LIFE
SHALL BE YOUR MONUMENT!





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