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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


LOVE AND PAIN: TWO SONNETS: 2 by WILLIAM BRIAN HOOKER

First Line: I CRIED: 'LOVE, MUST IT EVER BE THY PRICE'
Last Line: AND LOVE'S OWN SELF LAY LAUGHING ON MY BREAST.

I cried: "Love, must it ever be thy price
To find thee fostering this form of dread?"
And Love looked at me with thine eyes, and said:
"She is the shadow of a soul, that lies
Within my light, Mistress of Mysteries.
Face her, and find; flee her, and I am fled."
And at the word, that phantom raised her head,
Smiling. I saw that she too had thine eyes.

Then while I wondered, she drew near, to lay
Cold hands of fear upon my heart, and pressed
Terrible lips on mine; and as the crest
Of some dark wave shatters to shining spray,
So my dream swelled and shattered into day --
And Love's own self lay laughing on my breast.



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