Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
Sonnets from the Portuguese: XXXI
1Thou comest! all is said without a word.
2I sit beneath thy looks, as children do
3In the noon-sun, with souls that tremble through
4Their happy eyelids from an unaverred
5Yet prodigal inward joy. Behold, I erred
6In that last doubt! and yet I cannot rue
7The sin most, but the occasion—that we two
8Should for a moment stand unministered
9By a mutual presence. Ah, keep near and close,
10Thou dove-like help! and, when my fears would rise,
11With thy broad heart serenely interpose:
12Brood down with thy divine sufficiencies
13These thoughts which tremble when bereft of those,
14Like callow birds left desert to the skies.
Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.
Original text: A Selection from the Poetry of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. First Series. New Edition. London: Smith, Elder, & Co., 1886. 1: 181-202.
First publication date:
1850
RPO poem editor: Marc R. Plamondon
RP edition: 2007
Recent editing: 2:2007/11/24
Composition date:
1846
Form: sonnet
Other poems by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
