Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO OLIVIA by FRANCIS THOMPSON

Poet Analysis

First Line: I FEAR TO LOVE THEE, SWEET, BECAUSE
Last Line: FULL-PANOPLIED IN WOMANHOOD.
Subject(s): CHILDREN; LOVE; CHILDHOOD;
I fear to love thee, Sweet, because
Love's the ambassador of loss;
White flake of childhood, clinging so
To my soiled raiment, thy shy snow
At tenderest touch will shrink and go.
Love me not, delightful child.
My heart, by many snares beguiled,
Has grown timorous and wild.
It would fear thee not at all,
Wert thou not so harmless-small.
Because thy arrows, not yet dire,
Are still unbarbed with destined fire,
I fear thee more than hadst thou stood
Full-panoplied in womanhood.



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