Love's Secret

John Boyle O'Reilly 1844 (Dowth) – 1890 (Boston)



LOVE found them sitting in a woodland place,
His amorous hand amid her golden tresses;
And Love looked smiling on her glowing face
And moistened eyes upturned to his caresses.

'O sweet,' she murmured, 'life is utter bliss!'
'Dear heart,' he said, 'our golden cup runs over!'
'Drink, love,' she cried, 'and thank the gods for this!'
He drained the precious lips of cup and lover.

Love blessed the kiss; but, ere he wandered thence,
The mated bosoms heard this benediction:
“Love lies within the brimming bowl of sense:
Who Jceeps this full has joy—who drains, affliction.”

They heard the rustle as he smiling fled:
She reached her hand to pull the roses blowing.
He stretched to take the purple grapes o'erhead;
Love whispered back, 'Nay, Keep their beauties growing.'

They paused, and understood: one flower alone
They took and kept, and Love flew smiling over.
Their roses bloomed, their cup went brimming on—
She looked for love within, and found her lover.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

50 sec read
70

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GHGH XDXD
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 972
Words 173
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

John Boyle O'Reilly

John Boyle O'Reilly was an Irish-born poet, journalist and fiction writer. more…

All John Boyle O'Reilly poems | John Boyle O'Reilly Books

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