A HEART of ice did here my heart inflame, Bound with loose hairs, a pris'ner I became, Here first sweet Love, tho' bitter in the end, Flatter'd with spite, with kindness did offend. But from assaults, a new defence I'm taught, And my past ills an antidote have brought; So the poor bird, that once escape has made, Returns with caution where the net is laid. With my late damp, all sparks of love expire, My feet approach, yet does my soul retire, Tho' near her presence, I can justly say, My eyes and mind tend quite another way. With her my lute could no attention find, Now will I please myself, not sing to th' wind; With laurel here, where cypress late I wore, I'll triumph more than e'er I griev'd before. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VERSES SUPPOSED TO BE WRITTEN BY ALEXANDER SELKIRK by WILLIAM COWPER WHISPERS OF IMMORTALITY by THOMAS STEARNS ELIOT THE HEATHEN PASS-EE by ARTHUR CLEMENT HILTON HOW CYRUS LAID THE CABLE [JULY 29, 1866] by JOHN GODFREY SAXE IDYLL 11. THE CYCLOPS by THEOCRITUS THE EUMENIDES: THE FURIES' PRAYER by AESCHYLUS |