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Thou Famished Grave Thou famished grave, I will not fill thee yet, Roar though thou dost, I am too happy here; Gnaw thine own sides, fast on; I have no fear Of thy dark project, but my heart is set On living - I have heroes to beget Before I die; I will not come anear Thy dismal jaws for many a splendid year; Till I be old, I aim not to be eat. I cannot starve thee out: I am thy prey And thou shalt have me; but I dare defend That I can stave thee off; and I dare say, What with the life I lead, the force I spend, I'll be but bones and jewels on that day, And leave thee hungry even in the end. |
I think I should have loved you presently I think I should have loved you presently, And given in earnest words I flung in jest; And lifted honest eyes for you to see, And caught your hand against my cheek and breast; And all my pretty follies flung aside That won you to me, and beneath your gaze, Naked of reticence and shorn of pride, Spread like a chart my little wicked ways. I, that had been to you, had you remained, But one more waking from a recurrent dream, Cherish no less the certain stakes I gained, And walk your memory's halls, austere, supreme, A ghost in marble of a girl you knew Who would have loved you in a day or two. |
| First Fig My candle burns at both ends; It will not last the night; But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends-- It gives a lovely light |
Second Fig Safe upon the solid rock the ugly houses stand: Come and see my shining palace built upon the sand! |
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Thursday And if I loved you Wednesday, Well, what is that to you? I do not love you Thursday-- So much is true. And why you come complaining Is more than I can see. I loved you Wednesday,--yes--but what Is that to me? |
I Shall Forget You Presently, My Dear I shall forget you presently, my dear, So make the most of this, your little day, Your little month, your little half a year, Ere I forget, or die, or move away, And we are done forever; by and by I shall forget you, as I said, but now, If you entreat me with your loveliest lie I will protest you with my favorite vow. I would indeed that love were longer-lived, And vows were not so brittle as they are, But so it is, and nature has contrived To struggle on without a break thus far, Whether or not we find what we are seeking Is idle, biologically speaking. |