My Heart And I Poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

My Heart And I

Rating: 3.1


I.

ENOUGH ! we're tired, my heart and I.
We sit beside the headstone thus,
And wish that name were carved for us.
The moss reprints more tenderly
The hard types of the mason's knife,
As heaven's sweet life renews earth's life
With which we're tired, my heart and I.

II.
You see we're tired, my heart and I.
We dealt with books, we trusted men,
And in our own blood drenched the pen,
As if such colours could not fly.
We walked too straight for fortune's end,
We loved too true to keep a friend ;
At last we're tired, my heart and I.

III.
How tired we feel, my heart and I !
We seem of no use in the world ;
Our fancies hang grey and uncurled
About men's eyes indifferently ;
Our voice which thrilled you so, will let
You sleep; our tears are only wet :
What do we here, my heart and I ?

IV.
So tired, so tired, my heart and I !
It was not thus in that old time
When Ralph sat with me 'neath the lime
To watch the sunset from the sky.
`Dear love, you're looking tired,' he said;
I, smiling at him, shook my head :
'Tis now we're tired, my heart and I.

V.
So tired, so tired, my heart and I !
Though now none takes me on his arm
To fold me close and kiss me warm
Till each quick breath end in a sigh
Of happy languor. Now, alone,
We lean upon this graveyard stone,
Uncheered, unkissed, my heart and I.

VI.
Tired out we are, my heart and I.
Suppose the world brought diadems
To tempt us, crusted with loose gems
Of powers and pleasures ? Let it try.
We scarcely care to look at even
A pretty child, or God's blue heaven,
We feel so tired, my heart and I.

VII.
Yet who complains ? My heart and I ?
In this abundant earth no doubt
Is little room for things worn out :
Disdain them, break them, throw them by
And if before the days grew rough
We once were loved, used, -- well enough,
I think, we've fared, my heart and I.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Susan Williams 16 October 2015

about the destructive effects of grief and loss, and about the inability to move on after the death of someone the author loved

22 3 Reply
Azcuena Acosta 11 July 2009

This poem embodies every bit of feeling in me! ! !

3 3 Reply
Liz Elizabeth 07 August 2007

that's relly great..i like it^_^

2 2 Reply
Ratnakar Mandlik 18 September 2016

A beautifully envisioned meaningful and thought provoking poem. Thanks for sharing it here.

0 2 Reply
Khairul Ahsan 19 October 2020

'So tired, so tired, my heart and I! Though now none takes me on his arm To fold me close and kiss me warm Till each quick breath end in a sigh Of happy languor. Now, alone, We lean upon this graveyard stone, Uncheered, unkissed, my heart and I.' - Loved this stanza the most!

0 0 Reply
Mahtab Bangalee 19 October 2020

`Dear love, you're looking tired, ' he said; I, smiling at him, shook my head: 'Tis now we're tired, my heart and I....... In this poem lover and beloved became tired as separated being to finding out each to other. I think it's a pure poem of love

0 0 Reply
Vanidia Ogega 19 October 2020

This is such a contrast to Pablo's IF YOU FORGET ME...a and has an average closeness to Poe's ANNABELL LEE. It is an ode to the heart.

0 0 Reply
Edward Kofi Louis 19 October 2020

Tired! ! ! Muse of love and life; " Our own blood drenched the pen" ! Thanks for sharing this poem with us.

0 0 Reply
Savita Tyagi 19 October 2020

Though we keep pushing the boundaries of old age, yet it’s effect can’t be denied. Yes it resonates well with me.

0 0 Reply
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