Thursday 2 September 2010

Mortal Love

Waiting in Love's maddening strife,
With what great sorrows she is fraught!
Because her ends are not cut short,
She will be cutting short my life.

Your cruelty on this mortal plane
Against what's well-deserved to be
Is that you have withheld from me
The remedy to cure my pain.

And Glory's long-expected boon
Serves more to anguish than elate;
My life grows shorter as I wait 
Why won't its end be coming soon?

— from 16th century Spain

The image is 'La Belle Dame Sans Merci' by Arthur Hughes.

2 comments:

  1. Have Mercy. Interesting what people write throughout the ages.

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  2. Thanks Had for dropping by and for your kind comments!

    Good to see you!

    ReplyDelete