Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SONNET: 40, by GEORGE SANTAYANA Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: If, when the story of my love is old Last Line: And let the whole world see her as I saw. Subject(s): Love | ||||||||
If, when the story of my love is old, This book should live and lover's leisure feed, Fair charactered, for bluest eye to read, And richly bound, for whitest hand to hold, -- O limn me then this lovely head in gold, And, limner, the soft lips and lashes heed, And set her in the midst, my love indeed, The sweet eyes tender, and the broad brow cold. And never let thy colours think to cast A brighter splendour on her beauties past, Or venture to disguise a fancied flaw; Let not thy painting falsify my rhyme, But perfect keep the mould for after time, And let the whole world see her as I saw. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE INVENTION OF LOVE by MATTHEA HARVEY TWO VIEWS OF BUSON by ROBERT HASS A LOVE FOR FOUR VOICES: HOMAGE TO FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN by ANTHONY HECHT AN OFFERING FOR PATRICIA by ANTHONY HECHT LATE AFTERNOON: THE ONSLAUGHT OF LOVE by ANTHONY HECHT A SWEETENING ALL AROUND ME AS IT FALLS by JANE HIRSHFIELD |
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