English Poetry II: From Collins to Fitzgerald.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
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| 606. Sonnets from the Portuguese |
| | | XXIX |
| | | Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–1861) |
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| I THINK of thee!—my thoughts do twine and bud | |
| About thee, as wild vines, about a tree, | |
| Put out broad leaves, and soon there’s nought to see | |
| Except the straggling green which hides the wood. | |
| Yet, O my palm-tree, be it understood | 5 |
| I will not have my thoughts instead of thee | |
| Who art dearer, better! Rather, instantly | |
| Renew thy presence; as a strong tree should, | |
| Rustle thy boughs and set thy trunk all bare, | |
| And let these bands of greenery which insphere thee | 10 |
| Drop heavily down,—burst, shattered, everywhere! | |
| Because, in this deep joy to see and hear thee | |
| And breathe within thy shadow a new air, | |
| I do not think of thee—I am too near thee. | |
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