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 lasting troth.
Quick-loving hearts, I thought, may quickly loathe;
And, looking on myself, I seemed not one
For such man’s love!—more like an out-of-tune
Worn viol, a good singer would be wroth
To spoil his song with, and which, snatched in haste,
Is laid down at the first ill-sounding note.
I did not wrong myself so, but I placed
A wrong on thee. For perfect strains may float
‘Neath master-hands, from instruments defaced,—
And great souls, at one stroke, may do and doat.
(Elizabeth Barrett Browning)
More Poetry from Elizabeth Barrett Browning:
Elizabeth Barrett Browning Poems based on Topics: Love, Soul, Mind, Thought & Thinking, Musicians, Haste- Only a Curl. (Elizabeth Barrett Browning Poems)
- The Sweetness Of England (Elizabeth Barrett Browning Poems)
- The Romaunt of Margret (excerpts) (Elizabeth Barrett Browning Poems)
- The North And The South (Elizabeth Barrett Browning Poems)
- To (Elizabeth Barrett Browning Poems)
- The Lady's Yes. (Elizabeth Barrett Browning Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Love Poems, Mind Poems, Soul Poems, Thought & Thinking Poems, Haste Poems, Musicians PoemsBased on Keywords: viol, slacken, doat, master-hands, out-of-tune, quick-loving, ill-sounding