Ask the Empress of the night How the hand which guides her sphere, Constant in unconstant light, Taught the waves her yoke to bear, And did thus by loving force Curb or tame the rude sea's course. Ask the female palm how she First did woo her husband's love; And the magnet, ask how he Doth the obsequious iron move; Waters, plants and stones know this, That they love, not what love is. Be not then less kind than these, Or from love exempt alone; Let us twine like amorous trees, And like rivers melt in one; Or if thou more cruel prove Learn of steel and stones to love. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MERLIN by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 27 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING A VALEDICTION: OF MY NAME IN THE WINDOW by JOHN DONNE A DIRGE by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE SNOW MAN by WALLACE STEVENS LATIMER AND RIDLEY, BURNED AT THE STAKE IN OXFORD, 1555 by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN |