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IMPOSSIBILITIES by ABRAHAM COWLEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: IMPOSSIBILITIES? OH NO, THERE'S NONE
Last Line: FOR WHEN THY LIGHT GOES OUT, I SINKE AND DYE.
1.

IMpossibilities? oh no, there's none;
Could mine bring thy Heart Captive home;
As eas'ly other dangers were o'rethrown,
As Caesar after vanquisht Rome,
His little Asian foes did overcome.

2.

True Lovers oft by Fortune are envy'd,
Oft Earth and Hell against them strive;
But Providence engages on their side,
And a good end at last does give;
At last Just Men and Lovers alwaies thrive.

3.

As starres (not powerful else) when they conjoyn,
Change, as they please, the World's estate;
So thy heart in Conjunction with mine,
Shall our own fortunes regulate;
And to the Stars themselves prescribe a Fate.

4.

'Twould grieve me much to find some bold Romance
That should two kindeart in Conjunction with mine,
Shall our own fortunes regulate;
And to the Stars themselves prescribe a Fate.

4.

'Twould grieve me much to find some bold Romance
That should two kind examples shew,
Which before us in wonders did advance;
Not, that I thought that story true,
But none should Fancy more, then I would doe.

5.

Through spite of our worst Enemies, thy Friends,
Through Local Banishment from mee;
Through the loud Thoughts of selfe-concerning Ends,
As easie shall my passage be,
As was the Amorous Youth's o're Helles Sea.

6.

In vain the Winds, in vain the Billows roare;
In vaine the Starres their aid deni'd:
He saw the Sestian Tower on th' other shore;
Shall th' Hellespont our Loves divide?
No, not th' Atlantick Ocean's boundlesse Tide.

7.

Such Seas betwixt us eas'ly conquer'd are;
But, gentle Maid, doe not deny
To let thy Beams shine on me from afarre?
And still that Taper let me 'espy;
For when thy Light goes out, I sinke and dye.



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