Affection Poem by Mary Elizabeth Coleridge

Affection

Rating: 3.5


The earth that made the rose,
She also is thy mother, and not I.
The flame wherewith thy maiden spirit glows
Was lighted at no hearth that I sit by.
I am as far below as heaven above thee.
Were I thine angel, more I could not love thee.

Bid me defend thee!
Thy danger over-human strength shall lend me,
A hand of iron and a heart of steel,
To strike, to wound, to slay, and not to feel.
But if you chide me,
I am a weak, defenceless child beside thee.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Kevin Straw 29 March 2010

The psychological insight that affection can turn to “a hand of iron” - that love can become tyrannous is true. I could do without the metaphysics of the first verse, and have the second verse start “Affection, bid me defend thee! ” Sometimes, a poem has a kind of 'sighting' at the beginning before it truly begins.

4 7 Reply
Christopher Cruz 29 March 2012

great poem i was touched when reading it

2 8 Reply
Adnan Khalifeh 29 March 2010

Nice poem. Dear friends, I have read your comments regarding this poem. I like to read your comments on my poem too (I give-up) . Best Regards, Adnan.

2 8 Reply
Joseph Poewhit 29 March 2010

Really captures the heights and depths of the spirit.

3 6 Reply
Susan Witman 29 March 2009

It's beautiful.... You write well. For the rose could be a person or a plant depending on your interpretation.

3 5 Reply
Savita Tyagi 13 January 2024

Lovely poem. In today's Patriarch society some how mother and Mother Nature's role in creating us, shaping us and nurturing us has been diminished.

0 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 02 January 2021

Most touching poem to read, about God and us, ordinary human beings and emotive subjects. A pleasure to read. Only with God we are powerful,

0 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 02 January 2021

Bid me defend thee! Thy danger over-human strength shall lend me, A hand of iron and a heart of steel, To strike, to wound, to slay, and not to feel. But if you chide me, I am a weak, defenceless child beside thee.Mesmerizing poem

0 0 Reply
Dr Antony Theodore 28 March 2020

Thy danger over-human strength shall lend me, A hand of iron and a heart of steel, To strike, to wound, to slay, and not to feel. But if you chide me, I am a weak, defenceless child beside thee. very fine poem.. i am weak, defencless. do not chide me. tony

0 0 Reply
Mahtab Bangalee 10 November 2019

But if you chide me, I am a weak, defenceless child beside thee. // beautifully penned

0 0 Reply
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