"I love thee, oh, I love thee!"—How those words Mount upward from my heart in swelling joy! "I love thee, oh, I love thee!"—Those sweet words Gush forth unbidden in resistless joy! I love thee!—not as others love,—as those Who bend in servile homage to the creature; I love the soul—the perfume, not the rose— The glorious soul that beams through every feature! I love thee!—I have listened to thy voice Till it has entered in and filled my heart; And with a joy-born tremour I rejoice When through my frame its tones sweet-thrilling dart! I love thee!—I have gazed into thine eyes Deep as are the depths of dark-blue ocean, And seen bright, noble thoughts within arise, And issue forth in angel-like emotion! I love thee!—I have gazed into those eyes Till I have read the stainless soul within, Pure and unspotted as my native skies; Too pure for earth, too good to dwell with sin! I love thee!—I have bent, in worshipping Yet anguished reverence, before thy soul; Feeling, alas, life's tenure from me slipping, And I not reached thy heart, my spirit's goal! I love thee, angel-souled!—A haughty brow, That never bowed to other, bows to thee; A spirit proud and lonely until now, Kneeleth, as to an altar-shrine—to thee! I love thee! with a poet's adoration, Such as the common-souled can never feel,— Wilt thou not hear my earnest imploration? Wilt thou not look upon me as I kneel? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WYNKEN, BLYNKEN AND NOD by EUGENE FIELD THE CONTRETEMPS by THOMAS HARDY EPITAPH ON THE TOMB OF SIR EDWARD GILES AND HIS WIFE by ROBERT HERRICK FROM HIDDEN SOURCE by JEAN ANDERSON FROM AN OFFICE WINDOW by FRANCES M. BALLARD TWO SONNETS: 1. CHRIST AND LOVE'S ROSE-CROWN by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) SHADOWS ON THE WALL by ALEXANDER (ALEKSANDR) ALEXANDROVICH BLOK |