Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE TREE, by ABRAHAM COWLEY


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THE TREE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: I chose the flourishing'st tree in all the park
Last Line: To that unlucky historie.
Subject(s): Love; Trees


1.

I Chose the flouri'shing'st Tree in all the Parke,
With freshest Boughs, and fairest head;
I cut my Love into his gentle Barke,
And in three dayes, behold 'tis dead!
My very written Flames so vi'olent be,
They've burnt and wither'd up the Tree.

2.

How should I live my selfe, whose heart is found
Deeply graven every where,
With the large History of many a wound,
Larger then thy Trunke can beare?
With art as strange, as Homer in the Nut,
Love in my Heart has Volumes put.

3.

What a few words from thy rich stock did take
The Leaves and Beauties all?
As a strong Poison with one drop does make
The Nailes and Haires to fall:
Love (I see now) a kind of Witchcraft is,
Or Characters could nere doe this.

4.

Pardon, yee Birds and Nymphes, who lov'd this Shade;
And pardon mee, thou gentle Tree;
I thought her name would thee have happy made,
And blessed Omens hop'd from Thee;
Notes of my Love, thrive here (said I) and grow;
And with yee let my Love doe so.

5.

Alas, poore Youth, thy love will never thrive!
This blasted Tree predestines it;
Goe tie the dismall Knot (why shouldst thou live?)
And by the Lines thou there hast writ
Deform'dly hanging, the sad Picture be
To that unlucky Historie.





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