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Mary Elizabeth Coleridge Short Poems

Famous Short Mary Elizabeth Coleridge Poems. Short poetry by famous poet Mary Elizabeth Coleridge. A collection of the all-time best Mary Elizabeth Coleridge short poems


by Mary Elizabeth Coleridge
 GOOD FRIDAY in my heart! Fear and affright! 
My thoughts are the Disciples when they fled, 
My words the words that priest and soldier said, 
My deed the spear to desecrate the dead.
And day, Thy death therein, is changed to night.
Then Easter in my heart sends up the sun.
My thoughts are Mary, when she turned to see.
My words are Peter, answering, ‘Lov’st thou Me?’ My deeds are all Thine own drawn close to Thee, And night and day, since Thou dost rise, are one.



by Mary Elizabeth Coleridge
 When wintry winds are no more heard, 
And joy's in every bosom, 
When summer sings in every bird, 
And shines in every blossom, 
When happy twilight hours are long, 
Come home, my love, and think no wrong! 

When berries gleam above the stream 
And half the fields are yellow, 
Come back to me, my joyous dream, 
The world hath not thy fellow! 
And I will make thee Queen among 
The Queens of summer and of song.

by Mary Elizabeth Coleridge
 Sunshine let it be or frost, 
Storm or calm, as Thou shalt choose; 
Though Thine every gift were lost, 
Thee Thyself we could not lose.

by Mary Elizabeth Coleridge
 Strange Power, I know not what thou art, 
Murderer or mistress of my heart.
I know I'd rather meet the blow Of my most unrelenting foe Than live---as now I live---to be Slain twenty times a day by thee.
Yet, when I would command thee hence, Thou mockest at the vain pretence, Murmuring in mine ear a song Once loved, alas! forgotten long; And on my brow I feel a kiss That I would rather die than miss.

by Mary Elizabeth Coleridge
 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.



by Mary Elizabeth Coleridge
 WE never said farewell, nor even looked 
Our last upon each other, for no sign 
Was made when we the linkèd chain unhooked 
And broke the level line.
And here we dwell together, side by side, Our places fixed for life upon the chart.
Two islands that the roaring seas divide Are not more far apart.

by Mary Elizabeth Coleridge
 BLUE is Our Lady’s colour, 
White is Our Lord’s.
To-morrow I will wear a knot Of blue and white cords, That you may see it, where you ride Among the flashing swords.
O banner, white and sunny blue, With prayer I wove thee! For love the white, for faith the heavenly hue, And both for him, so tender-true, Him that doth love me!

by Mary Elizabeth Coleridge
 I ask of thee, love, nothing but relief.
Thou canst not bring the old days back again; For I was happy then, Not knowing heavenly joy, not knowing grief.

by Mary Elizabeth Coleridge
 Grant me but a day, love, 
But a day, 
Ere I give my heart, 
My heart away, 
Ere I say the word 
I'll ne'er unsay.
Is it earnest with me? Is it play? Did the world in arms Cry to me, "Stay!" Not a moment then Would I delay.
Yet, for very love, I say thee nay.
Ere I give my heart, My heart away, Grant me but a day, love, But a day!

by Mary Elizabeth Coleridge
 O LET me be in loving nice,
Dainty, fine, and o’er precise,
That I may charm my charmàd dear
As tho’ I felt a secret fear
To lose what never can be lost,—
Her faith who still delights me most!
So shall I be more than true,
Ever in my ageing new.
So dull habit shall not be Wrongly call’d Fidelity.


Book: Shattered Sighs