LOVE'S PHILOSOPHY

Percy Bysshe Shelley 1792-1822

The fountains mingle with the river

   And the rivers with the ocean,

The winds of heaven mix for ever

   With a sweet emotion;

Nothing in the world is single;

   All things by a law divine

In one spirit meet and mingle.

   Why not I with thine? - 

See the mountains kiss high heaven

   And the waves clasp one another;

No sister-flower would be forgiven

   If it disdained its brother;

And the sunlight clasps the earth

   And the moonbeams kiss the sea:

What is all this sweet work worth

   If thou kiss not me?

-o0o-

THE SKYLARK

James Hogg 1770=1835

Bird of the wilderness,

Blithesome and cumberless,

Sweet be thy matin o'er moorland and lea!

Emblem of happiness,

Blest is thy dwelling-place -

O to abide in the desert with thee!

Wild is thy lay and loud,

Far in the downy cloud,

Love gives it energy, love gave it birth.

Where, on thy dewy wing,

Where art thou journeying?

Thy lay is in heaven, thy love is on earth.

O'er fell and fountain sheen,

O'er moor and mountain green,

O'er the red streamer that heralds the day,

Over the cloudlet dim,

Over the rainbow's rim,

Musical cherub, soar, singing, away!

Then, when the gloaming comes,

Low in the heather blooms

Sweet will thy welcome and bed of love be!

Emblem of happiness,

Blest is thy dwelling-place -

O to abide in the desert with thee! 

-o0o-

THE LITTLE VAGABOND

William Blake 1757-1827

Dear Mother, dear Mother, the Church is cold,

But the Ale-house is healthy and pleasant and warm;

Besides I can tell where I am use'd well,

Such usage in heaven will never do well.

   But if at the Church they would give us some Ale. 

And a pleasant fire, our souls to regale; 

We'd sing and we'd pray, all the live-long day; 

Nor ever once wish from the Church to stray, 

   Then the Parson might preach and drink and sing. 

And we'd be as happy as birds in the spring: 

And modest dame Lurch, who is always at Church,

Would not have bandy children nor fasting nor birch.

   And God like a father rejoicing to see, 

His children as pleasant and happy as he: 

Would have no more quarrel with the Devil or the Barrel 

But kiss him and give him both drink and apparel.

-o0o-

EVERYTHING COMES

Thomas Hardy 1840-1928

"The house is bleak and cold

Built so new for me!

All the winds upon the wold

Search it through for me;

No screening trees abound,

And the curious eyes around,

Keep on view for me."

"My love I am planting trees

As a screen for you

Both from winds, and eyes that tease

And peer in for you.

Only wait till they have grown,

No such bower will be known

As I mean for you."

"Then I will bear it, Love,

And will wait,'"she said.

- So, with years, there grew a grove.

"Skill how great!" she said

"As you wished, Dear?" - "Yes, I see!

But - I'm dying; and for me

'Tis too late," she said.

From now on each post here will include a poem by Thomas Hardy

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