Askest, "How long thou shalt stay?" Devastator of the day! Know, each substance and relation, Thorough nature's operation, Hath its unit, bound and metre; And every new compound Is some product and repeater, -- Product of the earlier found. But the unit of the visit, The encounter of the wise, -- Say, what other metre is it Than the meeting of the eyes? Nature poureth into nature Through the channels of that feature, Riding on the ray of sight, Fleeter far than whirlwinds go, Or for service, or delight, Hearts to hearts their meaning show, Sum their long experience, And import intelligence. Single look has drained the breast; Single moment years confessed. The duration of a glance Is the term of convenance, And, though thy rede be church or state, Frugal multiples of that. Speeding Saturn cannot halt; Linger, -- thou shalt rue the fault: If Love his moment overstay, Hatred's swift repulsions play. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CAPTAIN; AFTER READING HENLEY'S INVICTUS by DOROTHEA DAY TO HIS MISTRESS OBJECTING TO HIM NEITHER TOYING OR TALKING by ROBERT HERRICK THE PITY OF THE LEAVES by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON LOVE IN A COTTAGE by NATHANIEL PARKER WILLIS LET ALL THE EARTH KEEP SILENCE by LUCY A. K. ADEE ROBIN REDBREAST by WILLIAM ALLINGHAM |