O my thoughts' sweet food, my only owner, O my heaven's foretaste by thy heavenly pleasure, O the fair nymph born to do women honour, Lady my treasure: Where be now those joys that I lately tasted? Where be now those eyes, ever inly piercers? Where be now those words never idly wasted, Wounds to rehearsers? Where is, ah, that face, that a sun defaces? Where be those welcomes, by no worth deserved? Where be those movings, the delights, the graces? How be we swerved? O hideous absence, by thee am I thralled; O my vain word gone, ruin of my glory! O due allegiance, by thee am I called Still to be sorry. But no more words, though such a word be spoken, Nor no more wording, with a word to spill me: Peace, due allegiance; duty must be broken If duty kill me. Then come, O come; then do I come, receive me, Slay me not, for stay; do not hide thy blisses, But between those arms; never else do leave me; Give me my kisses. O my thoughts' sweet food, my my only owner O my heaven's foretaste by thy heavenly pleasure, O the fair nymph born to do women honour, Lady my treasure. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS by HENRY GLASSFORD BELL DINING-ROOM TEA by RUPERT BROOKE A NOCTURNAL UPON ST. LUCY'S DAY, BEING THE SHORTEST DAY by JOHN DONNE THE SEA AND THE SKYLARK by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS SARGENT'S PORTRAIT OF EDWIN BOOTH AT THE PLAYERS by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH EN TOUR; A SONG SEQUENCE: 1. THE GARGOYLE by ALBERTA BANCROFT THE ROMAUNT OF THE PAGE by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING |