love poems

Last night, in snowy gown and glove,
—I saw you watch the play
Where each mock hero won his love
—In the old unlifelike way.

(And, oh, were life their little scene
—Where love so smoothly ran,
How different, Dear, this world had been
—Since this old world began!)

For you, who saw them gayly win
—Both hand and heart away,
Knew well where dwelt the mockery in
—That foolish little play.

(“If love were all—if love were all,”
—The viols sobbed and cried,
“Then love were best whate'er befall!”

Kiss , lovely Celia, and be kind;
Let my desires freedom find,
Sit thee down,
And we will make the gods confess
Mortals enjoy some happiness.

Mars would disdain his mistress' charms
If he beheld thee in my arms,
And descend,
Thee his mortal queen to make,
Or live as mortal for thy sake.

Venus must lose her title now,
And leave to brag of Cupid's bow;
Silly Queen!
She hath but one, but I can spy
Ten thousand Cupids in thy eye.

Nor may the sun behold our bliss,
For sure thy eyes do dazzle his;

If all the world and love were young,
And truth in every shepherd's tongue,
These pretty pleasures might me move
To live with thee and be thy Love.

But Time drives flocks from field to fold;
When rivers rage and rocks grow cold;
And Philomel becometh dumb;
The rest complains of cares to come.

The flowers do fade, and wanton fields
To wayward Winter reckoning yields:
A honey tongue, a heart of gall,
Is fancy's spring, but sorrow's fall.

Thy gowns, thy shoes, thy beds of roses,

Among thy Fancies, tell me this,
What is the thing we call a kisse?
I shall resolve ye, what it is.

It is a creature born and bred
Between the lips, (all cherrie-red,)
By love and warme desires fed,
Chor. And makes more soft the Bridall Bed.

It is an active flame, that flies,
First, to the Babies of the eyes;
And charmes them there with lullabies;
Chor. And stils the Bride too, when she cries.

Then to the chin, the cheek, the eare,
It frisks, and flyes, now here, now there,

I dreamt I saw great Venus by me stand,
Leading a nodding infant by the hand;
And that she said to me familiarly—
“Take Love, and teach him how to play to me.”
She vanisht then. And I, poor fool, must turn
To teach the boy, as if he wished to learn.
I taught him all the pastoral songs I knew
And used to sing; and I informed him, too,
How Pan found out the pipe, Pallas the flute,
Phœbus the lyre, and Mercury the lute.
But not a jot for all my words cared he,
But lo! fell singing his love-songs to me;

I grieve and dare not show my discontent,
I love and yet am forced to seem to hate,
I do, yet dare not say I ever meant,
I seem stark mute but inwardly do prate.
I am and not, I freeze and yet am burned,
Since from myself another self I turned.

My care is like my shadow in the sun,
Follows me flying, flies when I pursue it,
Stands and lies by me, doth what I have done.
His too familiar care doth make me rue it.
No means I find to rid him from my breast,
Till by the end of things it be suppressed.

I MADE a song for my dear love's delight;
I wrought with all sweet words my heart could lend
To longing lips, and thrilled with joy to send
The message only love could read aright.
He came; and while I trembled in his sight,
He kissed my hands and said, “To what sweet end,
Unknowing, hast thou wrought, O gentle friend?
Singing thy song, I learned to woo, despite
My loved one's frown; and now she is my own.”
Blessing me then, he went his happy way.
The whole world sings my song, and I alone

Jesu, still the storm!
Only thou hast power,
In this troubled hour,
To bid our tremblings cease,
And give our spirits peace.
Jesu, still the storm!

Speak the potent word,
“Peace, be still!” and then
Calm returns again;
Each billow hides its crest,
And lays itself to rest.
Speak the potent word!

Jesu, love us still!
Oh, love on, love on,
As thou hast ever done;
Oh love us to the end,
Our one unchanging friend.
Jesu, love us still!

Jesu, bless us still!

O fathomless profound of rest,
In God to read a Father's name;
And childlike clinging to His breast
My birthright in His love to claim!

O miracle of grace to kneel
With boldness at the Throne of thrones;
Blood-wash'd, with nothing to conceal;
White-robed amid God's ransom'd ones!

O mystery of love divine!
Eternal Spirit, dost Thou choose
To make my lowly heart Thy shrine
And there Thy light of life diffuse?

And am I of the chosen Bride
Given by the Father to the Son,
In all His glory glorified,

I BROKE my heart because of you, my dear;
I wept full many an unmanly tear—
But as in agony I lay awake
I thought, “What lovely poems this will make!”