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Home  »  Women Poets of the Nineteenth Century  »  Dora Greenwell (1821–1882)

Alfred H. Miles, ed. Women Poets of the Nineteenth Century. 1907.

By Poems. VIII. “Qui sait Aimer, sait Mourir”

Dora Greenwell (1821–1882)

“I BURN my soul away!”

So spake the Rose and smiled; “within my cup

All day the sunbeams fall in flame, all day

They drink my sweetness up!”

“I sigh my soul away!”

The Lily said; “all night the moonbeams pale

Steal round and round me, whispering in their play

An all too tender tale!”

“I give my soul away!”

The Violet said; “the West wind wanders on,

The North wind comes; I know not what they say,

And yet my soul is gone!”

Oh, Poet, burn away

Thy fervent soul! fond Lover at the feet

Of her thou lovest, sigh! dear Christian, pray,

And let the world be sweet!