It lies before me there, and my own breath
Stirs its thin outer threads, as though beside
The living head I stood in honoured pride,
Talking of lovely things that conquer death.
Perhaps he pressed it once, or underneath
Ran his fine fingers when he leant, blank-eyed,
And saw in fancy Adam and his bride
With their heaped locks, or his own Delphic wreath.
There seems a love in hair, though it be dead.
It is the gentlest, yet the strongest thread
Of our frail plant,–a blossom from the tree
Surviving the proud trunk; as if it said,
Patience and gentleness in power. In me
Behold affectionate eternity.
(James Henry Leigh Hunt)
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Based on Topics: Love Poems, Death & Dying Poems, Nature Poems, Power Poems, Hair Poems, Pride Poems, Eternity Poems, Patience PoemsBased on Keywords: strongest, honoured, leant, gentlest, surviving, affectionate, delphic, blank-eyed