LOVE'S name is easy saying; yet who knows Love's uttermost, who loves not in his love The highest he has known, and yet above That highest vision finds his idol grows? Safe pinnacle of rapturous repose! And final agony of gladness! this -- To spend thy conscience glowing in thy kiss, -- Thy soul's high best at one with passion's throes. No inward half-relentings, nought of rift 'Twixt clay and spirit that should discord make; But awful, lavish homage, free to take Only to give the richlier, gift on gift; No better self made captive for love's sake, But love upraised to love, that love doth lift. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE DECISION (APRIL 14, 1861) by EDGAR LEE MASTERS BUCOLIC COMEDY: KING COPHETUA AND THE BEGGAR MAID by EDITH SITWELL BACKGROUND AND DESIGN by KAREN SWENSON SONGS FOR MY MOTHER: 2. HER HANDS by ANNA HEMPSTEAD BRANCH THE RUNAWAY SLAVE AT PILGRIM'S POINT by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING BALL'S BLUFF; A REVERIE by HERMAN MELVILLE |