WONDERING long how I could harmless see Men gazing on those beams that fired me, At last I found it was the crystal, love, Before my heart that did the heat improve: Which, by contracting of those scatter'd rays Into itself, did so produce my blaze. Now, lighted by my love, I see the same Beams dazzle those, that me are wont t' inflame; And now I bless my love, when I do think By how much I had rather burn than wink. But how much happier were it thus to burn, If I had liberty to choose my urn! But since those beams do promise only fire, This flame shall purge me of the dross, desire. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE POPPY-LAND EXPRESS by EDGAR WADE ABBOT OLNEY HYMNS: 9. THE CONTRITE HEART by WILLIAM COWPER THE LITTLE PEACH by EUGENE FIELD ALNWICK CASTLE by FITZ-GREENE HALLECK SONGS OF TRAVEL: 45. TO S.R. CROCKETT by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON IN THE ROOM by JAMES THOMSON (1834-1882) |