Prelude



How could I love you more?
I would give up
Even that beauty I have loved too well
That I might love you better.
Alas, how poor the gifts that lovers give
I can but give you of my flesh and strength,
I can but give you these few passing days
And passionate words that, since our speech began,
All lovers whisper in all ladies' ears.

I try to think of some one lovely gift
No lover yet in all the world has found;
I think: If the cold sombre gods
Were hot with love as I am
Could they not endow you with a star
And fix bright youth for ever in your limbs?
Could they not give you all things that I lack?

You should have loved a god; I am but dust.
Yet no god loves as loves this poor frail dust.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 30, 2023

44 sec read
199

Quick analysis:

Scheme XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX AA
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 699
Words 147
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 9, 7, 2

Richard Aldington

Richard Aldington, born Edward Godfree Aldington, was an English writer and poet. more…

All Richard Aldington poems | Richard Aldington Books

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