To Cloris



Cloris, I cannot say your eyes
Did my unwary heart surprise;
Nor will I swear it was your face,
Your shape, or any nameless grace:
For you are so entirely fair,
To love a part, injustice were;
No drowning man can know which drop
Of water his last breath did stop;
So when the stars in heaven appear,
And join to make the night look clear;
The light we no one's bounty call,
But the obliging gift of all.
He that does lips or hands adore,
Deserves them only, and no more;
But I love all, and every part,
And nothing less can ease my heart.
Cupid, that lover, weakly strikes,
Who can express what 'tis he likes.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

36 sec read
70

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABBCDEEFFGGHHIIJJ
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 617
Words 120
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 18

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