WHY should I ask perfection of thee, sweet, That have so little of mine own to bring? That thou art beautiful from head to feet -- Is that, beloved, such a little thing, That I should ask more of thee, and should fling Thy largesse from me, in a world like this, O generous giver of thy perfect kiss? Thou gavest me thy lips, thine eyes, thine hair; I brought thee worship -- was it not thy due? If thou art cruel -- still art thou not fair? Roses thou gavest -- shalt thou not bring rue? Alas! have I not brought thee sorrow too? How dare I face the future and its drouth, Missing that golden honeycomb thy mouth? Kiss and make up -- 'tis the wise ancient way; Back to my arms, O bountiful deep breast! No more of words that know not what they say; To kiss is wisdom -- folly all the rest. Dear loveliness so mercifully pressed Against my heart -- I shake with sudden fear To think -- to losing thee I came so near. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON HUNTINGDON'S 'MIRANDA' by SIDNEY LANIER A SONG [OF DIVINE LOVE] by RICHARD CRASHAW UNDERWOODS: BOOK 1: 22. THE CELESTIAL SURGEON by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON ANTIMENIDAS by ALCAEUS OF MYTILENE EPILOGUE TO LESSING'S LAOCOON by MATTHEW ARNOLD THE HEATHER ON FIRE by MATHILDE BLIND EMILE ZOLA by MARJORIE W. BRACHLOW |