Three-Fold

Ella Wheeler Wilcox 1855 (Janesville) – 1919



Somewhere I've read a thoughtful mind's reflection:
 'All perfect things are three-fold'; and I know
Our love has the rare symbol of perfection;
 The brain's response, the warm blood's rapturous glow,
The soul's sweet language, silent and unspoken.
 All these unite us with a deathless tie.
For when our frail, clay tenement is broken,
 Our spirits will be lovers still, on high.

My dearest wish, you speak before I word it.
 You understand the workings of heart.
My soul's thought, breathed where only God has heard it,
 You fathom with your strange divining art.
And Like a fire, that cheers, and lights, and blesses,
 And floods a mansion full of happy heat,
So does the subtle warmth of your caresses,
 Pervade me with rapture, keen as sweet.

And so sometimes, as you and I together
 Exult in all dear love's three-fold delights,
I cannot help but vaguely wonder whether
 When our free souls attain their spirit heights,
E'en if we reach that upper realm where God is,
 And find the tales of heavenly glory true,
I wonder if we shall not miss our bodies,
 And long, at times, for hours on earth we knew.

As now, we sometimes pray to leave our prison
 And soar beyond all physical demands,
So may we not sigh, when we have arisen,
 For just one old-time touch of lips and hands?
I know, dear heart, a thought like this seems daring
 Concerning God's vast Government above,
Yet, even There, I shrink from wholly sparing
 One element, from this, our Three-fold Love.

Font size:
Collection  PDF     
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:20 min read
42

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABABACAC DEDEFGFG HIHIFJXJ AKAKLMLM
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 1,461
Words 259
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 8, 8, 8, 8

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Ella Wheeler Wilcox was an American author and poet. more…

All Ella Wheeler Wilcox poems | Ella Wheeler Wilcox Books

2 fans

Discuss the poem Three-Fold with the community...

0 Comments

    Translation

    Find a translation for this poem in other languages:

    Select another language:

    • - Select -
    • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
    • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
    • Español (Spanish)
    • Esperanto (Esperanto)
    • 日本語 (Japanese)
    • Português (Portuguese)
    • Deutsch (German)
    • العربية (Arabic)
    • Français (French)
    • Русский (Russian)
    • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
    • 한국어 (Korean)
    • עברית (Hebrew)
    • Gaeilge (Irish)
    • Українська (Ukrainian)
    • اردو (Urdu)
    • Magyar (Hungarian)
    • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
    • Indonesia (Indonesian)
    • Italiano (Italian)
    • தமிழ் (Tamil)
    • Türkçe (Turkish)
    • తెలుగు (Telugu)
    • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
    • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
    • Čeština (Czech)
    • Polski (Polish)
    • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
    • Românește (Romanian)
    • Nederlands (Dutch)
    • Ελληνικά (Greek)
    • Latinum (Latin)
    • Svenska (Swedish)
    • Dansk (Danish)
    • Suomi (Finnish)
    • فارسی (Persian)
    • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
    • հայերեն (Armenian)
    • Norsk (Norwegian)
    • English (English)

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this poem to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Three-Fold" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 20 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/10947/three-fold>.

    Become a member!

    Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

    April 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    10
    days
    22
    hours
    17
    minutes

    Special Program

    Earn Rewards!

    Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

    Browse Poetry.com

    Quiz

    Are you a poetry master?

    »
    Who is credited with creating the first poetry slam event?
    A Grand corps Malade
    B Marc Smith
    C Victor Hugo
    D Kerry James