Monday, April 12, 2010

Poetry Corner: Andrew Marvell


The Definition Of Love
by Andrew Marvell

My love is of a birth as rare

As 'tis for object strange and high:

It was begotten by Despair

Upon Impossibility.

Magnanimous Despair alone

Could show me so divine a thing,

Where feeble Hope could ne'er have flown

But vainly flapped its tinsel wing.

And yet I quickly might arrive

Where my extended soul is fixed

But Fate does iron wedges drive,

And always crowds itself betwixt.

For Fate with jealous eye does see

Two perfect loves, nor lets them close:

Their union would her ruin be,

And her tyrranic power depose.

And therefore her decrees of steel

Us as the distant Poles have placed

(Though Love's whole world on us doth wheel)

Not by themselves to be embraced,

Unless the giddy heaven fall,

And earth some new convulsion tear;

And, us to join, the world should all

Be cramped into a planisphere.

As lines (so loves) oblique may well

Themselves in every angle greet:

But ours so truly parallel,

Though infinite, can never meet.

Therefore the love which us doth bind,

But Fate so enviously debars,

Is the conjunction of the mind,

And opposition of the stars.

8 comments:

houndstooth said...

That was lovely! I've never read it before, but I like it a lot. Thank you for sharing!

Bunny and her mom

Sam said...

I'm always amazed that people could write something so beautiful. I've written some poetry, but not much of it has been abstract stuff. Thank you for sharing!

RILEY AND STAR MY MALTESEKIDS said...

Hi Sallie,

We just luuuv your posts! They are always so interesting and informative. Thanks!

I answered your question so don't forget to read it!

Luv,
Star and Riley.

meowmeowmans said...

Thanks for sharing such a great poem!

Remington said...

WOW -- that was great! Thank you for sharing!

little princess Luna~ said...

thannks for sharing~!! :)

xo,
luna

Cocorue said...

oooh, i don't understand this but mumster loves it. thanks for sharing and it's nice to meet you, TQ for visiting.

mumster says your mom is very talented. see you around
chikisses
coco

Bobby said...

Very good, touching.

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