Poem #1
I am grateful, violins, for this day
of four chords. Pure
is the sound of the sky,
the blue voice of the air.
-Pablo Neruda
Poem #2
XIV
If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love's sake only. Do not say
"I love her for her smile--her look--her way
Of speaking gently,--for a trick of thought
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of pleasant ease on such a day"--
For these things in themselves, Beloved, may
Be changed, or change for thee,--and love, so wrought,
May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry,--
A creature might forget to weep, who bore
Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
But love me for love's sake, that evermore
Thou mayst love on, through love's eternity.
-Elizabeth Barrett Browning, who is kind of awesome.
Lovely.
ReplyDeleteI think we read both of these in AP English. They're fabulous.
ReplyDeleteThanks, kids :)
ReplyDelete