I cannot love thee as I ought, For love reflects the thing beloved; My words are only words, and moved Upon the topmost froth of thought. 'Yet blame not thou thy plaintive song,' The Spirit of true love replied; 'Thou canst not move me from thy side, Nor human frailty do me wrong. 'What keeps a spirit wholly true To that ideal which he bears? What record? not the sinless years That breathed beneath the Syrian blue; 'So fret not, like an idle girl, That life is dash'd with flecks of sin. Abide; thy wealth is gather'd in, When Time hath sunder'd shell from pearl.' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE PARTING OF THE WAYS by JOSEPH BENSON GILDER WESTWARD HO! by CINCINNATUS HEINE MILLER HOW CYRUS LAID THE CABLE [JULY 29, 1866] by JOHN GODFREY SAXE THE BIRD WITH THE COPPERY, KEEN CLAWS by WALLACE STEVENS SIX O'CLOCK by TRUMBULL STICKNEY |