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The Vine

I dreamed this mortal part of mine
                        Was metamorphosed to a vine,
                    Which, crawling one and every way,
                        Enthralled my dainty Lucia.
                Methought, her long small legs and thighs
                      I with my tendrils did surprise:
                    Her belley, buttocks, and her waist
                    By my soft nervelets were embraced
                      About her head I writhing hung
                    And with rich clusters (hid Amoung
                    The leaves) her temples i behung,
                      So that my Lucia seemed to me
                    Young Bacchus ravished by his tree.
                    My curls about her neck did crawl,
                  And arms and hands they did enthrall,
                    So that she could not freely stir
                  ( All parts there made one prisoner).
                  But when I crept with leaves to hide
                  Those parts which maids keep unespied,
                    Such fleeting pleasures there I took
                        That with the fancy i awoke,
                  And found (ah me!) this flesh of mine
                    More like a stock than like a vine.

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Comments


  • Nobody126
    February 22
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    Classic

    wow..what a piece.the dimensions of beauty are more poetic than the beauty itself.


  • September 8, 2001
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    If you thought YOU were cheated, imagine how Herrick felt! ;-) I like how he lifts the poem out of the purely sexual in the middle. With the references to classical mythology and his emphasis on Lucia's head, hair, and neck (rather than "belley, buttocks, and her waist"), he seems to be moving towards a more sensitive, romantic poem. Then of course he brings the hammer down at the end and comes back to pure bawdiness. That's classic! It's like he considers something high-flown, then says, "Ah screw that touchy-feely dreck!" Funny stuff, but carefully composed and beautifully descriptive.


  • September 1, 2001
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    : he sure changes the feeling quickily at the end... I guess its meant for shock, but I can't help feeling cheated. Especially with that '(ah me!)' in there Good desc tho