Love

He Compares Himself to a Candle-Fly

by Francis Davison c. 1575–c. 1619

From A Poetical Rhapsody (1602), ed. A. H. Bullen (1890–91)

Love

Like to the seely fly,
To the dear light I fly
Of your disdainful eyes.
But in a diverse wise:
She with the flame doth play
By night alone, and I, both night and day.

She to a candle runs;
I to a light, far brighter than the sun's.
She near at hand is fired;
I both near hand, and far away retired.
She fondly thinks, nor dead, nor burnt to be;
But I my burning and my death foresee.

MLA

Davison, Francis. “He Compares Himself to a Candle-Fly.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/davison/68/.

Chicago

Davison, Francis. “He Compares Himself to a Candle-Fly.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/davison/68/.

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