Sonnets from the Portuguese: XXIX

Sonnets from the Portuguese: XXIX

Original Text
A Selection from the Poetry of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. First Series. New Edition. London: Smith, Elder, & Co., 1886. 1: 181-202.
1I think of thee!—my thoughts do twine and bud
2About thee, as wild vines, about a tree,
3Put out broad leaves, and soon there’s nought to see
4Except the straggling green which hides the wood.
5Yet, O my palm-tree, be it understood
6I will not have my thoughts instead of thee
7Who art dearer, better! Rather, instantly
8Renew thy presence; as a strong tree should,
9Rustle thy boughs and set thy trunk all bare,
10And let these bands of greenery which insphere thee,
11Drop heavily down,—burst, shattered everywhere!
12Because, in this deep joy to see and hear thee
13And breathe within thy shadow a new air,
14I do not think of thee—I am too near thee.
Publication Start Year
1850
RPO poem Editors
Marc R. Plamondon
RPO Edition
2007
Form