Horrible of hue, hideous to behold, Careful of countenance, his hair all clustered, With dead droppy blood that down his face rolled, Pale, painful, and piteously pierced, His heart in sunder sorrowfully shivered, Methought a man, thus marvellously murdered, This night to me came and carefully cried: 'O man misfortunate, more than any creature, That painfully yet lives more pain to perceive, What hardened hath thy heart this harm to suffer? Thy doubtful hope, it do thee but deceive. No good nor grace to glad thee shalt receive. By pain from thy pain then pain to procure, Moe bitter it were than death to endure. 'Follow me,' saith he, 'hold here my hand. Too long is death in tears to groan. The sea shall sooner quench the brand Of the desire that hath thee thus undone Or sooner send thee to a deadly swoon. Hold in thy hand the haft here of this knife And with the blade boldly bereave thy life. 'Come off,' quod he. 'I come,' quod I. Then therewith as methought My breast I pierced painfully. My heart right soon I it raught. But, lord, alas, it was for naught For with that stroke I did awake. My heart for sorrow yet feel I quake. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: WILLIAM AND EMILY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS SARAH'S MONSTERS by KAREN SWENSON THE BLACK COTTAGE by ROBERT FROST BE STRONG by MALTBIE DAVENPORT BABCOCK REPORT ON EXPERIENCE by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN SONNET TO GEORGE SAND: 2. A DESIRE by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING |