O JOY divine of friends! To hold within the circle of one's arms More than the universe holds: So sweet, so rare, so precious beyond words, The god so tenderly mortal! Not kisses only or embraces, Nor the sweet pain and passion of the flesh alone; But more, far more, To feel (ah joy!) the creature deep within Touch on its mate, unite, and lie entranced There, ages down, and ages long, in light, Suffused, divine—where all these other pleasures Fade but to symbols of that perfect union! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE FLY by BARNABY (BARNABE) GOOGE A DIRGE (1) by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS ON THE RHINE by MATTHEW ARNOLD REVOLUTION by LOUISA SARAH BEVINGTON IDYLL 2. EROS AND THE FOWLER by BION UNDOMESTICATED ANIMALS by BERTON BRALEY SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 30 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING |