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Lost Mistress | Poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Lost Mistress Poem 

................... by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

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All's over, then: does truth sound bitter

As one at first believes?

Hark, 'tis the sparrows' good-night twitter

About your cottage eaves!



II.




And the leaf-buds on the vine are woolly,

I noticed that, to-day;

One day more bursts them open fully

---You know the red turns grey.




III.




To-morrow we meet the same then, dearest?

May I take your hand in mine?

Mere friends are we,---well, friends the merest

Keep much that I resign:



IV.




For each glance of the eye so bright and black,

Though I keep with heart's endeavour,---

Your voice, when you wish the snowdrops back,

Though it stay in my soul for ever!---



V.




Yet I will but say what mere friends say,

Or only a thought stronger;

I will hold your hand but as long as all may,

Or so very little longer!All's over, then: does truth sound bitter

As one at first believes?

Hark, 'tis the sparrows' good-night twitter

About your cottage eaves!



II.




And the leaf-buds on the vine are woolly,

I noticed that, to-day;

One day more bursts them open fully

---You know the red turns grey.




III.




To-morrow we meet the same then, dearest?

May I take your hand in mine?

Mere friends are we,---well, friends the merest

Keep much that I resign:



IV.




For each glance of the eye so bright and black,

Though I keep with heart's endeavour,---

Your voice, when you wish the snowdrops back,

Though it stay in my soul for ever!---



V.




Yet I will but say what mere friends say,

Or only a thought stronger;

I will hold your hand but as long as all may,

Or so very little longer!All's over, then: does truth sound bitter

As one at first believes?

Hark, 'tis the sparrows' good-night twitter

About your cottage eaves!



II.




And the leaf-buds on the vine are woolly,

I noticed that, to-day;

One day more bursts them open fully

---You know the red turns grey.




III.




To-morrow we meet the same then, dearest?

May I take your hand in mine?

Mere friends are we,---well, friends the merest

Keep much that I resign:



IV.




For each glance of the eye so bright and black,

Though I keep with heart's endeavour,---

Your voice, when you wish the snowdrops back,

Though it stay in my soul for ever!---



V.




Yet I will but say what mere friends say,

Or only a thought stronger;

I will hold your hand but as long as all may,

Or so very little longer!All's over, then: does truth sound bitter

As one at first believes?

Hark, 'tis the sparrows' good-night twitter

About your cottage eaves!



II.




And the leaf-buds on the vine are woolly,

I noticed that, to-day;

One day more bursts them open fully

---You know the red turns grey.




III.




To-morrow we meet the same then, dearest?

May I take your hand in mine?

Mere friends are we,---well, friends the merest

Keep much that I resign:



IV.




For each glance of the eye so bright and black,

Though I keep with heart's endeavour,---

Your voice, when you wish the snowdrops back,

Though it stay in my soul for ever!---



V.




Yet I will but say what mere friends say,

Or only a thought stronger;

I will hold your hand but as long as all may,

Or so very little longer!All's over, then: does truth sound bitter

As one at first believes?

Hark, 'tis the sparrows' good-night twitter

About your cottage eaves!



II.




And the leaf-buds on the vine are woolly,

I noticed that, to-day;

One day more bursts them open fully

---You know the red turns grey.




III.




To-morrow we meet the same then, dearest?

May I take your hand in mine?

Mere friends are we,---well, friends the merest

Keep much that I resign:



IV.




For each glance of the eye so bright and black,

Though I keep with heart's endeavour,---

Your voice, when you wish the snowdrops back,

Though it stay in my soul for ever!---



V.




Yet I will but say what mere friends say,

Or only a thought stronger;

I will hold your hand but as long as all may,

Or so very little longer!All's over, then: does truth sound bitter

As one at first believes?

Hark, 'tis the sparrows' good-night twitter

About your cottage eaves!



II.




And the leaf-buds on the vine are woolly,

I noticed that, to-day;

One day more bursts them open fully

---You know the red turns grey.




III.




To-morrow we meet the same then, dearest?

May I take your hand in mine?

Mere friends are we,---well, friends the merest

Keep much that I resign:



IV.




For each glance of the eye so bright and black,

Though I keep with heart's endeavour,---

Your voice, when you wish the snowdrops back,

Though it stay in my soul for ever!---



V.




Yet I will but say what mere friends say,

Or only a thought stronger;

I will hold your hand but as long as all may,

Or so very little longer!All's over, then: does truth sound bitter

As one at first believes?

Hark, 'tis the sparrows' good-night twitter

About your cottage eaves!



II.




And the leaf-buds on the vine are woolly,

I noticed that, to-day;

One day more bursts them open fully

---You know the red turns grey.




III.




To-morrow we meet the same then, dearest?

May I take your hand in mine?

Mere friends are we,---well, friends the merest

Keep much that I resign:



IV.




For each glance of the eye so bright and black,

Though I keep with heart's endeavour,---

Your voice, when you wish the snowdrops back,

Though it stay in my soul for ever!---



V.




Yet I will but say what mere friends say,

Or only a thought stronger;

I will hold your hand but as long as all may,

Or so very little longer!All's over, then: does truth sound bitter

As one at first believes?

Hark, 'tis the sparrows' good-night twitter

About your cottage eaves!



II.




And the leaf-buds on the vine are woolly,

I noticed that, to-day;

One day more bursts them open fully

---You know the red turns grey.




III.




To-morrow we meet the same then, dearest?

May I take your hand in mine?

Mere friends are we,---well, friends the merest

Keep much that I resign:



IV.




For each glance of the eye so bright and black,

Though I keep with heart's endeavour,---

Your voice, when you wish the snowdrops back,

Though it stay in my soul for ever!---



V.




Yet I will but say what mere friends say,

Or only a thought stronger;

I will hold your hand but as long as all may,

Or so very little longer!All's over, then: does truth sound bitter

As one at first believes?

Hark, 'tis the sparrows' good-night twitter

About your cottage eaves!



II.




And the leaf-buds on the vine are woolly,

I noticed that, to-day;

One day more bursts them open fully

---You know the red turns grey.




III.




To-morrow we meet the same then, dearest?

May I take your hand in mine?

Mere friends are we,---well, friends the merest

Keep much that I resign:



IV.




For each glance of the eye so bright and black,

Though I keep with heart's endeavour,---

Your voice, when you wish the snowdrops back,

Though it stay in my soul for ever!---



V.




Yet I will but say what mere friends say,

Or only a thought stronger;

I will hold your hand but as long as all may,

Or so very little longer!All's over, then: does truth sound bitter

As one at first believes?

Hark, 'tis the sparrows' good-night twitter

About your cottage eaves!



II.




And the leaf-buds on the vine are woolly,

I noticed that, to-day;

One day more bursts them open fully

---You know the red turns grey.




III.




To-morrow we meet the same then, dearest?

May I take your hand in mine?

Mere friends are we,---well, friends the merest

Keep much that I resign:



IV.




For each glance of the eye so bright and black,

Though I keep with heart's endeavour,---

Your voice, when you wish the snowdrops back,

Though it stay in my soul for ever!---



V.




Yet I will but say what mere friends say,

Or only a thought stronger;

I will hold your hand but as long as all may,

Or so very little longer!

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Elizabeth Barrett Browning - Wikipedia

Elizabeth Barrett Browning - Poet | Academy of American Poets

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We hope you enjoyed the Lost Mistress Poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning


The last poem was Lord Walters Wife | Poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The next poem is Love and a Question | Poem by Robert Frost

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