Affection Poem by Mary Elizabeth Coleridge
Affection
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.
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.
It's beautiful.... You write well. For the rose could be a person or a plant depending on your interpretation.
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.
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,
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
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
But if you chide me, I am a weak, defenceless child beside thee. // beautifully penned
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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12/9/2024 7:55:15 AM # 1.0.0
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.