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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO A LADY WHO PRESENTED TO THE AUTHOR A LOCK OF HAIR, by GEORGE GORDON BYRON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: These locks, which fondly thus entwine Last Line: But curse my fate for ever after. Alternate Author Name(s): Byron, Lord; Byron, 6th Baron Subject(s): Hair | |||
(WITH HIS OWN, AND APPOINTED A NIGHT IN DECEMBER TO MEET HIM IN THE GARDEN) THESE locks, which fondly thus entwine, In firmer chains our hearts confine Than all th' unmeaning protestations Which swell with nonsense love orations. Our love is fix'd, I think we've proved it, Nor time, nor place, nor art have moved it; Then wherefore should we sigh and whine, With groundless jealousy repine, With silly whims and fancies frantic, Merely to make our love romantic? Why should you weep like Lydia Languish, And fret with self-created anguish? Or doom the lover you have chosen, On winter nights to sigh half frozen; In leafless shades to sue for pardon, Only because the scene's a garden? For gardens seem, by one consent (Since Shakspeare set the precedent, Since Juliet first declared her passion), To form the place of assignation. Oh! would some modern muse inspire, And seat her by a sea-coal fire; Or had the bard at Christmas written, And laid the scene of love in Britain, He surely, in commiseration, Had changed the place of declaration. In Italy I've no objection, Warm nights are proper for reflection; But here our climate is so rigid, That love itself is rather frigid: Think on our chilly situation, And curb this rage for imitation. Then let us meet, as oft we've done, Beneath the influence of the sun; Or, if at midnight I must meet you, Within your mansion let me greet you: There we can love for hours together, Much better, in such snowy weather, Than placed in all th' Arcadian groves That ever witness'd rural loves; Then, if my passion fail to please, Next night I'll be content to freeze; No more I'll give a loose to laughter, But curse my fate for ever after. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PORTRAIT WITH BROWN HAIR by DONALD JUSTICE OPENING HER JEWEL BOX by WILLIAM MATTHEWS THE BLONDE SONATA by JOHN FREDERICK NIMS THE SONG CALLED HIS HIDE IS COVERED WITH HAIR by HILAIRE BELLOC THE WOMEN WITH FABLED HAIR by MADELINE DEFREES DECRYPTING THE MESSAGE by EDWARD FIELD ALL IS VANITY, SAITH THE PREACHER' by GEORGE GORDON BYRON |
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