Love
Hortense, 1
Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring (1908) · From New Poems: Hortense
Love
Once I thought each kiss a woman
Gives us, or receives instead,
By some influence superhuman
Was from old predestinèd.
I both took and gave back willing
Kisses then as earnestly
As if I were but fulfilling
Actions of necessity.
Kisses are superfluous,--this I
Have discover’d on life’s stage,
And with small concern now kiss I,
Heedless of the surplusage.
Cite this poem
MLA
Heine, Heinrich. “Hortense, 1.” Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/heine/198/.
Chicago
Heine, Heinrich. “Hortense, 1.” Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/heine/198/.
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