Love

Constancy

by Michael Field 1846–1914 (Bradley) and 1862–1913 (Cooper)

From Underneath the Bough (1898)

Love

I love her with the seasons, with the winds,
As the stars worship, as anemones
Shudder in secret for the sun, as bees
Buzz round an open flower: in all kinds
My love is perfect, and in each she finds
Herself the goal; then why, intent to tease
And rob her delicate spirit of its ease
Hastes she to range me with inconstant minds?

If she should die, if I were left at large
On earth without her — I, on earth, the same
Quick mortal with a thousand cries, her spell
She fears would break. And I confront the charge.
As sorrowing, and as careless of my fame,
As Christ intact before the infidel.

✦ ✦ ✦

The Third Book of Songs

MLA

Field, Michael. “Constancy.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/field_m/95/.

Chicago

Field, Michael. “Constancy.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/field_m/95/.

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