Love

XXI

by Algernon Charles Swinburne 1837–1909

From A Midsummer Holiday and Other Poems

Love

Song visible, whence all men's eyes were lit
With love and loving wonder: song that glowed
Through cloud and change on souls that knew not it
And hearts that wist not whence their comfort flowed,
Whence fear was lightened of her fever-fit,
Whence anguish of her life-compelling load.
Yea, no man's head whereon the fire alit,
Of all that passed along that sunset road
Westward, no brow so drear,
No eye so dull of cheer,
No face so mean whereon that light abode,
But as with alien pride
Strange godhead glorified
Each feature flushed from heaven with fire that showed
The likeness of its own life wrought
By strong transfiguration as of living thought.

MLA

Swinburne, Algernon Charles. “XXI.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/swinburne/106/.

Chicago

Swinburne, Algernon Charles. “XXI.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/swinburne/106/.

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