Relationships

Girl to Soldier on Leave

by Isaac Rosenberg 1890–1918

From Poems (1922)

RelationshipsLove

I love you, Titan lover,
My own storm-days’ Titan.
Greater than the son of Zeus,
I know whom I would choose.

Titan—my splendid rebel—
The old Prometheus
Wanes like a ghost before your power:
His pangs were joys to yours.

Pallid days, arid and wan,
Tied your soul fast:
Babel-cities’ smoky tops
Pressed upon your growth

Weary gyves. What were you
But a word in the brain’s ways,
Or the sleep of Circe’s swine?
One gyve holds you yet.

It held you hiddenly on the Somme
Tied from my heart at home:
O must it loosen now? I wish
You were bound with the old, old gyves.

Love! You love me—your eyes
Have looked through death at mine.
You have tempted a grave too much.
I let you—I repine.

✦ ✦ ✦

A girl addresses her 'Titan lover' on leave, claiming she would choose him over a son of Zeus and warning that he has tempted a grave too much.

MLA

Rosenberg, Isaac. “Girl to Soldier on Leave.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/rosenberg/13/.

Chicago

Rosenberg, Isaac. “Girl to Soldier on Leave.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/rosenberg/13/.

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