poems about love

Because I feel that I cannot forget,
I think thee, Lord!—Because for ever now
My eyes will meet the sinless eyes I met,
And see the dark hair shade a sinless brow:

Because, though she is dead,—aye, dead in shame,
Polluted through the villany of one
Who, lusting, did in love's dishonoured name
The meanest deed that ever on earth was done;

Because, though she be lost, she for whose sake
I would have gone with singing to my tomb,
I think of her … as even the ice-bound lake

These fresh beauties (we can prove)
Once were Virgins sick of love,
Turn'd to Flowers. Still in some
Colours goe, and colours come.

Oh , no—not even when first we loved,
?Wert thou as dear as now thou art;
Thy beauty then my senses moved,
?But now thy virtues bind my heart.
What was but Passion's sigh before,
?Has since been turned to Reason's vow;
And, though I then might love thee more ,
?Trust me, I love thee better now.
Altho' my heart in earlier youth
?Might kindle with more wild desire,
Believe me, it has gained in truth
?Much more than it has lost in fire.
The flame now warms my inmost core,
?That then but sparkled o'er my brow,

I

SHE sang of Love so loud and long
?That when one day he came to call
She was so busy with her song
?She did not hear him knock at all;
And aShe left, unrecognized,
He looked exceedingly surprised.
II

Searching for Love, the distance o'er
?She scanned the high and starry way,
And never knew that by her door
?He greeted her, say, thrice a day,
Because he wore, ah! hapless one,
The aspect of her neighbour's son.
III

About her everywhere she saw
Love's double breaking love and law,

BEGIN A BALLAD ON IT

The wind is weary, the world is wan;
?(Oh, lone, lank lilies and long, lean loves)
My shield is shed, my armor is gone,
And Virtue is all I depend upon.
( My lily ,
?My lissome lily, my languid love.)
Full thirteen days have I walked with woe,
?(Oh dear, dead days and divine desires)
And wolves may follow where'er I go,
But nothing shall stop my song's sweet flow.
( My lily ,
?My love, my delirious, dark desire.)
The night is old and threadbare and thin,
?(Oh limpid lily, oh labial love)

ROBERT HERRICK

INCLUDES IT IN ONE OF HIS “PIOUS PIECES”
?Fuscus, dear friend,
?I prithee lend
An ear for but a space,
?And thou shalt see
?How Love may be
A more than saving grace.
?As on a day
?I chanced to stray
Beyond my own confines
?Singing, perdie,
?Of Lalage
Whose smile no star outshines—
?So 'tranced were all
?That heard me call
On Love, that (from a grot)
?A wolf who heard
?That tender word,
Listened and harmed me not.
?Thus shielded by
?The magicry

I.

TO our Redeemer's glorious name,
?Awake the sacred song!
O may his love, (immortal flame!)
?Tune every heart and tongue.
II.

His love, what mortal thought can reach?
?What mortal tongue display?
Imagination's utmost stretch
?In wonder dies away.
III.

Let wonder still with love unite,
?And gratitude and joy;
Be Jesus our supreme delight,
?His praise, our best employ.
IV.

Jesus who left his throne on high,
?Left the bright realms of bliss,
And came on earth to bleed and die—

PARABLE XXXII.

The True Vine

The true and genuine vine am I,
The husbandman my Sire on high;
Each branch in me that grows in vain,
He will not suffer to remain:
But that which yields a plenteous store,
He purges to increase the more.
From your offence you now are clear'd
By those pure words, which you have heard.
Abide in me, and I in you;
For as the branch no fruit can shew,
Unless it cleave unto the tree,
So ye are nothing but in me.
Ye are the branches, I the vine,

Sing Waller's lay,
“Go, lovely rose,” or some old song,
That should I play
Feebly, thy voice may make me strong
With loving memories cherished long.
Sing “Drink to me”
Or “Take, oh, take those lips away,”
Some strain to be
When I am gone and thou art gray,
Remembered of a happier day.
A solemn air,
A melody not loud but low,
Suits whitening hair;
And when the pulse is beating slow
The music's measure should move so.
The song most sweet
Is that which lulls, not thrills the ear;
So, love, repeat

VERSE

The world is right,
My heart is light,
I'm like a baby,
There is no “maybe,”
I know my fate.
I never knew
What love could do,
My heart is reeling,
The way I'm feeling
Is simply great.
? REFRAIN

Fit as a fiddle and ready for love,
I could jump over the moon up above,
Fit as a fiddle and ready for love.
Haven't a worry, I haven't a care,
Feel like a feather that's floating on air,
Fit as a fiddle and ready for love.
Soon the church bells will be ringing,