A Cautionary POEM for Valentine's Day

by Thomas Campbell (1777-1844)

from 'Palgraves Golden Treasury',

(an unending source of beauteous poems)

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How delicious is the winning

Of a kiss at love's beginning,

When two mutual hearts are sighing

For the knot there's no untying!

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Yet remember, 'midst your wooing,

Love has bliss, but Love has ruing;

Other smiles may make you fickle,

Tears for other charms may trickle.

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Love he comes, and Love he tarries,

Just as fate or fancy carries;

Longest stays, when sorest chidden;

Laughs and flies when press'd and bidden.

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Bind the sea to slumber stilly,

Bind its odour to the lily,

Bind the aspen ne'er to quiver,

Then bind Love to last for ever.

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Love's a fire that needs renewal

Of fresh beauty for its fuel:

Love's wing moults when caged and captured,

Only free, he soars enraptured.

*

Can you keep the bee from ranging

Or the ringdove's neck from changing?

NO! nor fetter'd Love from dying

In the knot there's no untying.