• I ne'er was struck before that hour
    With love so sudden and so sweet.
    Her face it bloomed like a sweet flower
    And stole my heart away complete.

    My face turned pale, a deadly pale.
    My legs refused to walk away,
    And when she looked what could I ail
    My life and all seemed turned to clay.

    And then my blood rushed to my face
    And took my...

  • Translated by Charles Timothy Brooks

    TO most people who have leisure
    Raising poultry gives great pleasure;
    First, because the eggs they lay us
    For the care we take repay us;
    Secondly, that now and then
    We can dine on roasted hen;
    Thirdly, of the hen’s and goose’s
    Feathers men make various uses.
    Some folks like to rest...

  • First time he kissed me, he but only kissed
    The fingers of this hand wherewith I write;
    And, ever since, it grew more clean and white,
    Slow to world-greetings, quick with its “O list!”
    When the angels speak. A ring of amethyst
    I could not wear here, plainer to my sight
    Than that first kiss. The second passed in height
    The first, and...

  • Jest rain and snow! and rain again!
      And dribble! drip! and blow!
    Then snow! and thaw! and slush! and then—
      Some more rain and snow!

    This morning I was ’most afeard
      To wake up—when, I jing!
    I seen the sun shine out and heerd
      The first blue-bird of Spring!—
    Mother she ’d raised the winder some;—
    And in acrost the...

  • Much have I travelled in the realms of gold,
    And many goodly states and kingdoms seen;
    Round many western islands have I been
    Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold.
    Oft of one wide expanse had I been told
    That deep-browed Homer ruled as his demesne;
    Yet did I never breathe its pure serene
    Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold:...