Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE RINGLET, by ALFRED TENNYSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Your ringlets, your ringlets Last Line: Burn, burn. Alternate Author Name(s): Tennyson, Lord Alfred; Tennyson, 1st Baron; Tennyson Of Aldworth And Farringford, Baron Subject(s): Hair | ||||||||
'YOUR ringlets, your ringlets, That look so golden-gay, If you will give me one, but one, To kiss it night and day, Then never chilling touch of Time Will turn it silver-gray; And then shall I know it is all true gold To flame and sparkle and stream as of old. Till all the comets in heaven are cold, And all her stars decay.' 'Then take it, love, and put it by; This cannot change, nor yet can I.' 2 'My ringlet, my ringlet, That art so golden-gay, Now never chilling touch of Time Can turn thee silver-gray; And a lad may wink, and a girl may hint, And a fool may say his say; For my doubts and fears were all amiss, And I swear henceforth by this and this, That a doubt will only come for a kiss, And a fear to be kiss'd away.' 'Then kiss it, love, and put it by: If this can change, why so can I.' II O Ringlet, O Ringlet, I kiss'd you night and day, And Ringlet, O Ringlet, You still are golden-gay, But Ringlet, O Ringlet, You should be silver-gray: For what is this which now I'm told, I that took you for true gold, She that gave you 's bought and sold, Sold, sold. 2 O Ringlet, O Ringlet, She blush'd a rosy red, When Ringlet, O Ringlet, She clipt you from her head, And Ringlet, O Ringlet, She gave you me, and said, 'Come, kiss it, love, and put it by: If this can change, why so can I.' O fie, you golden nothing, fie, You golden lie. 3 O Ringlet, O Ringlet, I count you much to blame, For Ringlet, O Ringlet, You put me much to shame, So Ringlet, O Ringlet, I doom you to the flame. For what is this which now I learn, Has given all my faith a turn? Burn, you glossy heretic, burn, Burn, burn. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PORTRAIT WITH BROWN HAIR by DONALD JUSTICE OPENING HER JEWEL BOX by WILLIAM MATTHEWS THE BLONDE SONATA by JOHN FREDERICK NIMS THE SONG CALLED HIS HIDE IS COVERED WITH HAIR by HILAIRE BELLOC THE WOMEN WITH FABLED HAIR by MADELINE DEFREES DECRYPTING THE MESSAGE by EDWARD FIELD A CHARACTER by ALFRED TENNYSON |
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