Poems List
Explore poems from our collection
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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
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 …