Now sleeps the crimson petal, now the white;Nor waves the cypress in the palace walk;Nor winks the gold fin in the porphyry font.The firefly wakens; waken thou with me.    Now droops the milk-white peacock like a ghost,And like a ghost she glimmers on to me.    Now lies the Earth all Danaë to the stars,And all thy heart lies open unto … [Read more...]

The grey sea and the long black land; And the yellow half-moon large and low; And the startled little waves that leap In fiery ringlets from their sleep, As I gain the cove with pushing prow, And quench its speed i' the slushy sand.  Then a mile of warm sea-scented beach; Three fields to cross till a farm appears; A tap at the pane, the … [Read more...]

William Blake   The Lily The modest Rose puts forth a thorn, The humble sheep a threat’ning horn: While the Lily white shall in love delight, Nor a thorn nor a threat stain her beauty bright. … [Read more...]

Pablo Neruda   If You Forget me  I want you to know one thing. You know how this is: if I look at the crystal moon, at the red branch of the slow autumn at my window, if I touch near the fire the impalpable ash or the wrinkled body of the log, everything carries me to you, as if everything that exists, aromas, light, metals, were little boats that … [Read more...]

Derek Walcott   Love After Love  The time will come when, with elation you will greet yourself arriving at your own door, in your own mirror and each will smile at the other’s welcome, and say, sit here. Eat. You will love again the stranger who was your self. Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart to itself, to the stranger who has loved you all … [Read more...]