Aurora Leigh (excerpts)
[Book 1] I am like, They tell me, my dear father. Broader brows Howbeit, upon a slenderer undergrowth Of delicate features, paler, near as grave ; But then my mother’s smile breaks up the
Sonnet 21 – Say over again, and yet once over again
Say over again, and yet once over again, That thou dost love me. Though the word repeated Should seem ‘a cuckoo-song,’ as thou dost treat it, Remember, never to the hill or plain, Valley
Sonnet 39 – Because thou hast the power and own'st the grace
Because thou hast the power and own’st the grace To look through and behind this mask of me (Against which years have beat thus blanchingly With their rains), and behold my soul’s true face,
Adequacy
NOW, by the verdure on thy thousand hills, Beloved England, doth the earth appear Quite good enough for men to overbear The will of God in, with rebellious wills! We cannot say the morning-sun
Sonnet 32 – The first time that the sun rose on thine oath
The first time that the sun rose on thine oath To love me, I looked forward to the moon To slacken all those bonds which seemed too soon And quickly tied to make a
The Deserted Garden
I mind me in the days departed, How often underneath the sun With childish bounds I used to run To a garden long deserted. The beds and walks were vanished quite; And wheresoe’er had
Sonnet 09 – Can it be right to give what I can give?
Can it be right to give what I can give? To let thee sit beneath the fall of tears As salt as mine, and hear the sighing years Re-sighing on my lips renunciative Through
Discontent
LIGHT human nature is too lightly tost And ruffled without cause, complaining on Restless with rest, until, being overthrown, It learneth to lie quiet. Let a frost Or a small wasp have crept to
A Curse For A Nation
I heard an angel speak last night, And he said ‘Write! Write a Nation’s curse for me, And send it over the Western Sea.’ I faltered, taking up the word: ‘Not so, my lord!
Substitution
WHEN some beloved voice that was to you Both sound and sweetness, faileth suddenly, And silence, against which you dare not cry, Aches round you like a strong disease and new What hope? what
The Autumn
Go, sit upon the lofty hill, And turn your eyes around, Where waving woods and waters wild Do hymn an autumn sound. The summer sun is faint on them The summer flowers depart Sit
Consolation
All are not taken; there are left behind Living Belovиds, tender looks to bring And make the daylight still a happy thing, And tender voices, to make soft the wind: But if it were
Sonnet 14 – If thou must love me, let it be for nought
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
Sonnet 43 – How do I love thee? Let me count the ways
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being
Sonnet 34 – With the same heart, I said, I'll answer thee
With the same heart, I said, I’ll answer thee As those, when thou shalt call me by my name- Lo, the vain promise! is the same, the same, Perplexed and ruffled by life’s strategy?