A Valentine Poem by Lewis Carroll
A Valentine
Sent to a friend who had complained that I was glad enough to see
him when he came, but didn't seem to miss him if he stayed away.
And cannot pleasures, while they last,
Be actual unless, when past,
They leave us shuddering and aghast,
With anguish smarting?
And cannot friends be firm and fast,
And yet bear parting?
And must I then, at Friendship's call,
Calmly resign the little all
(Trifling, I grant, it is and small)
I have of gladness,
And lend my being to the thrall
Of gloom and sadness?
And think you that I should be dumb,
And full DOLORUM OMNIUM,
Excepting when YOU choose to come
And share my dinner?
At other times be sour and glum
And daily thinner?
Must he then only live to weep,
Who'd prove his friendship true and deep
By day a lonely shadow creep,
At night-time languish,
Oft raising in his broken sleep
The moan of anguish?
The lover, if for certain days
His fair one be denied his gaze,
Sinks not in grief and wild amaze,
But, wiser wooer,
He spends the time in writing lays,
And posts them to her.
And if the verse flow free and fast,
Till even the poet is aghast,
A touching Valentine at last
The post shall carry,
When thirteen days are gone and past
Of February.
Farewell, dear friend, and when we meet,
In desert waste or crowded street,
Perhaps before this week shall fleet,
Perhaps to-morrow.
I trust to find YOUR heart the seat
Of wasting sorrow.
And if the verse flow free and fast Till even the poet is aghast A touching Valentine at last. The poem flows smoothly like a river in plains. Thanks for sharing.
5th Stanza: The lover, if for certain days his fair one be denied his gaze Sinks not in grief and wild amaze But, wiser wooer He spends the time in writing lays And posts them to her! A 'lay' is defined as a short narrative or other poem, esp. one to be sung. A much wiser course of action than pouting when your friend does not appear!
And can not pleasures, while they last Be actual unless, when t past. Wonderfully envisioned poem. Thanks for sharing.
A lonely shadow! ! ! ! ! ! Thanks for sharing this poem with us.
i'm glad to be introduced this poem by carroll. like good humorous poetry it rhymes well, has regular meter, features tasty word choices, and concludes with a barbed last stanza. -gk
I trust to find YOUR heart the seat Good poem Of wasting sorrow.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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12/5/2023 3:25:48 PM # 1.0.0.1118
A good discussion about friendship- -I agree with him that friendship doesn't need daily nourishment. A well-established friendship has our back and we can share our good times and victories as well as our sorrows and defeat. But friendship needs both the nourishment of laughter as well as tears.