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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
LOVE AND DEATH, by GEORGE GORDON BYRON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I watched thee when the foe was at our side Last Line: To strongly, wrongly, vainly love thee still. Alternate Author Name(s): Byron, Lord; Byron, 6th Baron Variant Title(s): Love And Death: Last Lines Subject(s): Love; Death | |||
I WATCH'D thee when the foe was at our side, Ready to strike at him -- or thee and me, Were safety hopeless -- rather than divide Aught with one loved save love and liberty. I watch'd thee on the breakers, when the rock Received our prow and all was storm and fear, And bade thee cling to me through every shock; This arm would be thy bark, or breast thy bier. I watch'd thee when the fever glazed thine eyes, Yielding my couch and stretch'd me on the ground, When overworn with watching, ne'er to rise From thence if thou an early grave hadst found. The earthquake came, and rock'd the quivering wall, And men and nature reel'd as if with wine. Whom did I seek around the tottering hall? For thee. Whose safety first provide for? Thine. And when convulsive throes denied my breath The faintest utterance to my fading thought, To thee -- to thee -- e'en in the gasp of death My spirit turn'd, oh! oftener than it ought. Thus much and more; and yet thou lov'st me not, And never wilt! Love dwells not in our will. Nor can I blame thee, though it be my lot To strongly, wrongly, vainly love thee still. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A FRIEND KILLED IN THE WAR by ANTHONY HECHT FOR JAMES MERRILL: AN ADIEU by ANTHONY HECHT TARANTULA: OR THE DANCE OF DEATH by ANTHONY HECHT CHAMPS D?ÇÖHONNEUR by ERNEST HEMINGWAY HOW THE MIRROR LOOKS THIS MORNING by HICOK. BOB NOTE TO REALITY by TONY HOAGLAND ALL IS VANITY, SAITH THE PREACHER' by GEORGE GORDON BYRON |
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