My Love is of a birth as rare
As 'tis for object strange and high:
It was begotten by despair
Upon Impossibility.
Magnanimous Despair alone.
Could show me so divine a thing,
Where feeble Hope could ne'r have flown
But vainly flapt its Tinsel Wing.
And yet I quickly might arrive
Where my extended Soul is fixt,
But Fate does Iron wedges drive,
And alwaies crouds it self betwixt.
For Fate with jealous Eye does see.
Two perfect Loves; nor lets them close:
Their union would her ruine be,
And her Tyrannick pow'r depose.
And therefore her Decrees of Steel
Us as the distant Poles have plac'd,
(Though Loves whole World on us doth wheel)
Not by themselves to be embrac'd.
Unless the giddy Heaven fall,
And Earth some new Convulsion tear;
And, us to joyn, the World should all
Be cramp'd into a Planisphere.
As Lines so Loves Oblique may well
Themselves in every Angle greet:
But ours so truly Paralel,
Though infinite can never meet.
Therefore the Love which us doth bind,
But Fate so enviously debarrs,
Is the Conjunction of the Mind,
And Opposition of the Stars.
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From guest Sarah Khayal (contact)
This poem is probably one of the great expressions of a mutual love that can never be consummated. It's heartbreakingly poignant for those of us who have experienced this. Besides the fact that this poem is exceedingly well-done and very emotionally moving, one thing that I really enjoy about it is its use of mathematical/geometrical metaphors. What poet but one of the metaphysicals would use imagery of infinite parallel lines to describe love? That, more than anything, I think, is what really sets Marvell and his contemporaries apart from most other poets; they were not afraid to meld science and math with their poetry, a combination that one rarely sees, especially today. Finally. I want to say that This is a GREAT piece of work, I like it! -
Besides the fact that this poem is exceedingly well-done and very emotionally moving, one thing that I really enjoy about it is its use of mathematical/geometrical metaphors. What poet but one of the metaphysicals would use imagery of infinite parallel lines to describe love? That, more than anything, I think, is what really sets Marvell and his contemporaries apart from most other poets; they were not afraid to meld science and math with their poetry, a combination that one rarely sees, especially today.
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hmmmmmmmm, the definition of love. Could this be it, the true meaning. But there must be more of an answer, for this is not it. Wish he could tell me more. Someday, someone will find it.. yes, he may have. And maybe i will too.
~ Jack Hertz -
This poem is probably one of the great expressions of a mutual love that can never be consummated. It's heartbreakingly poignant for those of us who have experienced this.
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This is a GREAT piece of work, I like it!
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I first read this poem as a Senior in high school. I liked it so much I actually wrote a term paper on it. It's been a fixture on my wall since then. Every so often the meaning of the poem actually is relevant to my situation.
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