What is it about love poems? Even when they are sad, they are lovely.
Over the years - the centuries! - the basic sentiments and philosophies have not changed.
The flush of new love, the longings, the desires, the adorations, the memories. Even the break ups.
Of course The Bard himself was a master....
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?Thou art more lovely and more temperate
I love his words. But here are a few of my other enduring favourites...
Jenny Kissed Me
by Leigh Hunt
- Jenny kissed me when we met,
- Jumping from the chair she sat in.
- Time, you thief! who love to get
- Sweets into your list, put that in.
- Say I'm weary, say I'm sad;
- Say that health and wealth have missed me;
- Say I'm growing old, but add-
- Jenny kissed me!
Love's Philosophy
by Percy Bysshe Shelley
The fountains mingle with the river,
And the rivers with the ocean;
The winds of heaven mix forever,
With a sweet emotion;
Nothing in the world is single;
All things by a law divine
In one another's being mingle;--
Why not I with thine?
See the mountains kiss high heaven,
And the waves clasp one another;
No sister flower would be forgiven,
If it disdain'd its brother;
And the sunlight clasps the earth,
And the moonbeams kiss the sea;--
What are all these kissings worth,
If thou kiss not me?
Silent Worship
Did you not hear my lady
Go down the garden singing
Blackbird and thrush were silent
To hear the alleys ringing
Oh, saw you not my lady
Out in the garden there
Shaming the rose and lily
For she is twice as fair
Though I am nothing to her
Though she must rarely look at me
Though I can never woo her
I'll love her 'till I die
Did you not hear my lady
Go down the garden singing
Silencing all the songbirds
And setting the alleys ringing
Surely you heard my lady
Out in the garden there
Rivaling the glittering sunshine
With the glory of golden hair.
When We Two Parted
by George Gordon, Lord Byron
When we two parted In silence and tears,
Half broken-hearted To sever the years,
Pale grew thy cheek and cold,
Colder, thy kiss;
Truly that hour foretold Sorrow to this.
The dew of the morning Sunk, chill on my brow,
It felt like the warning
Of what I feel now.
Thy vows are all broken,
And light is thy fame;
I hear thy name spoken,
And share in its shame.
They name thee before me,
A knell to mine ear;
A shudder comes o'er me...
Why wert thou so dear?
They know not I knew thee,
Who knew thee too well..
Long, long shall I rue thee,
Too deeply to tell.
In secret we met
In silence I grieve
That thy heart could forget,
Thy spirit deceive.
If I should meet thee
After long years,
How should I greet thee?
With silence and tears.
