Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE RESEMBLANCE by THOMAS MOORE

First Line: YES, IF 'TWERE ANY COMMON LOVE
Last Line: HAD MINE EYE PRIZED THY BEAUTY LESS!

YES, if 'twere any common love,
That led my pliant heart astray,
I grant, there 's not a power above
Could wipe the faithless crime away!

But, 'twas my doom to err with one
In every look so like to thee,
That, oh, beneath the blessed sun,
So fair there are but thou and she!

Whate'er may be her angel birth,
She was thy lovely, perfect twin,
And wore the only shape on earth,
That could have charm'd my soul to sin!

Your eyes! -- the eyes of languid doves
Were never half so like each other!
The glances of the baby loves
Resemble less their warm-eyed mother!

Her lip! -- oh, call me not false-hearted,
When such a lip I fondly press'd;
'Twas Love some melting cherry parted,
Gave thee half and her the rest!

And when, with all thy murmuring tone,
They sued half-open to be kiss'd,
I could as soon resist thine own,
And them, Heaven knows, I ne'er resist.

Then, scorn me not, though false I be,
'Twas love that waked the dear excess;
My heart had been more true to thee,
Had mine eye prized thy beauty less!



Home: PoetryExplorer.net