Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ISIDORA (SEE MATURIN'S 'MELMOTH'), by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Love, whom I have loved too well Last Line: Paradise, will he be there? Alternate Author Name(s): Alleyne, Ellen; Rossetti, Christina Subject(s): Death; Future Life; Heaven; Life; Love; Soul; Dead, The; Retribution; Eternity; After Life; Paradise | ||||||||
Love, whom I have loved too well, Turn thy face away from me; For I heed nor Heaven nor Hell While mine eyes can look on thee. Do not answer, do not speak, For thy voice can make me weak. I must choose 'twixt God and man, And I dare not hesitate: Oh how little is life's span, And Eternity how great! Go out from me; for I fear Mine own strength while thou art here. Husband, leave me; but know this: I would gladly give my soul So that thine might dwell in bliss Free from the accursed control, So that thou mightest go hence In a hopeful penitence. Yea, from Hell I would look up, And behold thee in thy place, Drinking of the living cup, With the joy-look on thy face, And the Light that shines alone From the Glory of the Throne. But how could my endless loss Be thine everlasting gain? Shall thy palm grow from my cross? Shall thine ease be in my pain? Yea, thine own soul witnesseth Thy life is not in my death. It were vain that I should die; That we thus should perish both; Thou would'st gain no peace thereby; And in truth I should be loath By the loss of my salvation To increase thy condemnation. Little infant, his and mine, Would that I were as thou art; Nothing breaks that sleep of thine, And ah! nothing breaks thy heart; And thou knowest nought of strife, The heart's death for the soul's life. None misdoubt thee; none misdeem Of thy wishes and thy will. All thy thoughts are what they seem, Very pure and very still; And thou fearest not the voice That once made thy heart rejoice. Oh how calm thou art, my child! I could almost envy thee. Thou hast neither wept nor smiled, Thou that sleepest quietly. Would I also were at rest With the one that I love best. Husband, go. I dare not hearken To thy words, or look upon Those despairing eyes that darken Down on me -- but he is gone. Nay, come back; and be my fate As thou wilt -- it is too late. I have conquered; it is done; Yea, the death-struggle is o'er, And the hopeless quiet won! -- I shall see his face no more! -- And mine eyes are waxing dim Now they cannot look on him. And my heart-pulses are growing Very weak; and thro' my whole Life-blood a slow chill is going: -- Blessed Saviour, take my soul To Thy Paradise and care; -- Paradise, will he be there? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE END OF LIFE by PHILIP JAMES BAILEY SEVEN TWILIGHTS: 6 by CONRAD AIKEN THE BOOK OF THE DEAD MAN (#19): 2. MORE ABOUT THE DEAD MAN AND WINTER by MARVIN BELL THE WORLDS IN THIS WORLD by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR A SKELETON FOR MR. PAUL IN PARADISE; AFTER ALLAN GUISINGER by NORMAN DUBIE BEAUTY & RESTRAINT by DANIEL HALPERN HOW IT WILL HAPPEN, WHEN by DORIANNE LAUX IF THIS IS PARADISE by DORIANNE LAUX IT IS FINISHED' by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI ITALIA, IO TI SALUTO!' by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE HEART KNOWETH ITS OWN BITTERNESS' (2) by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI |
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