Monday, February 20, 2006

Poetry Monday

I have joined a great new blog group: Poetry Monday. Each Monday everyone in the group posts a poem. February's poetry theme is love/affection. I have chosen Christopher Marlow's poem, "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love". This isn't one of my favorite love poems, but the nymph's answer is. I plan to do that one next week--so please return for the sequel.

The Passionate Shepherd to His Love
by Christopher Marlowe
1599

Come live with me and be my love,
And we will all the pleasures prove
That valleys, groves, hills, and fields
Woods or steepy mountain yields

And we will sit upon the rocks,
Seeing the shepherds feed their flocks
By shallow rivers to whose falls
Melodious birds sing madrigals.

And I will make thee beds of roses
And a thousand fragrant posies,
A cap of flower, and a kirtle
Embroidered all with leaves of myrtle;

A gown made of the finest wool
Which from our pretty lambs we pull;
Fair lined slippers for the cold
With buckles of the purest gold;

A belt of straw and ivy buds,
With coral clasps and amber studs;
And if these pleasures may thee move,
Come live with me and be my love.

The shepherds' swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May morning:
If these delights thy mind may move,
Then live with me and be my love.

8 comments:

Pedro Nobre said...
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Anonymous said...

Oh Christopher Marlowe, be still my heart! I've read Marlowe's plays (in particular I'm a fan of Dr. Faustus) but I haven't read his poetry. Thanks for the heads up!

amandazen said...

Marlow what a weaver of romance... my favorite line is ...

"And if these pleasures may thee move,/Come live with me and be my love."

Thanks so much for reminding me of Marlow...

Pammi said...

Thanks for the great poam. And thanks for the suggestion on my blog about my posting problems. I will be trying your suggestions soon.

Paula said...

Hey that one is great! I liked that poem alot. I have never heard anything by Christopher Marlowe before. Thanks!

Your pound cake looks so heavenly! I think I gained weight just looking at the pictures!

Stacie said...

How romantic! Wow, if my man said that kind of stuff to me, we'd get nothing done around here!

Carrie K said...

There's a Poetry Monday? Awesome!

I actually love that poem but can't quite remember the Nymph's Answer, until I read it I'm sure.

Sherrill said...

I really enjoyed The Passionate Shepherd to His Love. Now to read the nymph's answer. This Poetry Monday is interesting...I will check it out.

Happy Wednesday day to you.