IF I were loved, as I desire to be, What is there in the great sphere of the earth, And range of evil between death and birth, That I should fear, -- if I were loved by thee? All the inner, all the outer world of pain Clear Love would pierce and cleave, if thou wert mine, As I have heard that, somewhere in the main, Fresh-water springs come up through bitter brine. 'T were joy, not fear, claspt hand-in-hand with thee, To wait for death -- mute -- careless of all ills, Apart upon a mountain, tho' the surge Of some new deluge from a thousand hills Flung leagues of roaring foam into the gorge Below us, as far on as eye could see. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...STABAT MATER DOLOROSA by JACOPONE DA TODI IDYLLS OF THE KING: THE LAST TOURNAMENT by ALFRED TENNYSON HASSAN'S MUSIC by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE LAY OF THE LOVER'S FRIEND by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN SONNET FROM JAPAN: 2. THE SHRINE OF THE PILGRIM SANDALS by ADELAIDE NICHOLS BAKER AUTUMN by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD A.G.A.V. by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN |