Poems List
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Sonnet XIV: If Thou Must Love Me
Sonnet XIV: If Thou Must Love Me
If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love's sake only. Do not say
"I love her for her smile--her look-…
Sonnet XIX: The Soul's Rialto
Sonnet XIX: The Soul's Rialto
The soul's Rialto hath its merchandise;
I barter curl for curl upon that mart,
And from my poet's forehead to my heart
Sonnet XII: Indeed This Very Love
Sonnet XII: Indeed This Very Love
Indeed this very love which is my boast,
And which, when rising up from breast to brow,
Doth crown me with ruby large e…
Sonnet XIII: And Wilt Thou Have Me
Sonnet XIII: And Wilt Thou Have Me
And wilt thou have me fashion into speech
The love I bear thee, finding words enough,
And hold the torch out, while th…
Sonnet XI: And Therefore If to Love
Sonnet XI: And Therefore If to Love
And therefore if to love can be desert,
I am not all unworthy. Cheeks as pale
As these you see, and trembling knees t…
Sonnet X: Yet Love, Mere Love
Sonnet X: Yet Love, Mere Love
Yet, love, mere love, is beautiful indeed
And worthy of acceptation. Fire is bright,
Let temple burn, or flax; an equal lig…
Sonnet VIII: What Can I Give Thee Back
Sonnet VIII: What Can I Give Thee Back
What can I give thee back, O liberal
And princely giver, who hast brought the gold
And purple of thine heart, unst…
Sonnet VII: The Face of All the World
Sonnet VII: The Face of All the World
The face of all the world is changed, I think,
Since first I heard the footsteps of thy soul
Move still, oh, still,…
Sonnet V: I Lift My Heavy Heart Up
Sonnet V: I Lift My Heavy Heart Up
I lift my heavy heart up solemnly,
As once Electra her sepulchral urn,
And, looking in thine eyes, I overturn
Th…
Sonnet VI: Go From Me
Sonnet VI: Go From Me
Go from me. Yet I feel that I shall stand
Henceforth in thy shadow. Nevermore
Alone upon the threshold of my door
Of individu…
Sonnet IV
Sonnet IV
Thou hast thy calling to some palace-floor,
Most gracious singer of high poems ! where
The dancers will break footing, from the care
Of w…
Sonnet IX
Sonnet IX
Can it be right to give what I can give ?
To let thee sit beneath the fall of tears
As salt as mine, and hear the sighing years
Re-sighin…
Sonnet II
Sonnet II
But only three in all God's universe
Have heard this word thou hast said,--Himself, beside
Thee speaking, and me listening ! and replied
…
Sonnet III
Sonnet III
Unlike are we, unlike, O princely Heart !
Unlike our uses and our destinies.
Our ministering two angels look surprise
On one another, as…
Sonnet 44 - Beloved, thou hast brought me many flowers
Sonnet 44 - Beloved, thou hast brought me many flowers
XLIV
Beloved, thou hast brought me many flowers
Plucked in the garden, all the summer throug…
Sonnet 42 - 'My future will not copy fair my past'
Sonnet 42 - 'My future will not copy fair my past'
XLII
'My future will not copy fair my past'-
I wrote that once; and thinking at my side
My …
Sonnet 38 - First time he kissed me, he but only kissed
Sonnet 38 - First time he kissed me, he but only kissed
XXXVIII
First time he kissed me, he but only kissed
The fingers of this hand wherewith I wr…
Sonnet 40 - Oh, yes! they love through all this world of ours!
Sonnet 40 - Oh, yes! they love through all this world of ours!
XL
Oh, yes! they love through all this world of ours!
I will not gainsay love, calle…
Sonnet 36 - When we met first and loved, I did not build
Sonnet 36 - When we met first and loved, I did not build
XXXVI
When we met first and loved, I did not build
Upon the event with marble. Could it me…
Sonnet 34 - With the same heart, I said, I'll answer thee
Sonnet 34 - With the same heart, I said, I'll answer thee
XXXIV
With the same heart, I said, I'll answer thee
As those, when thou shalt call me by …
Sonnet 32 - The first time that the sun rose on thine oath
Sonnet 32 - The first time that the sun rose on thine oath
XXXII
The first time that the sun rose on thine oath
To love me, I looked forward to the…
Sonnet 30 - I see thine image through my tears to-night
Sonnet 30 - I see thine image through my tears to-night
XXX
I see thine image through my tears to-night,
And yet to-day I saw thee smiling. How
Sonnet 26 - I lived with visions for my company
Sonnet 26 - I lived with visions for my company
XXVI
I lived with visions for my company
Instead of men and women, years ago,
And found them …
Sonnet 28 - My letters! all dead paper, mute and white!
Sonnet 28 - My letters! all dead paper, mute and white!
XXVIII
My letters! all dead paper, mute and white!
And yet they seem alive and quivering