By John Mason Neale Good King Wenceslas look’d out,On the Feast of Stephen;When the snow lay round about,Deep, and crisp, and even:Brightly shone the moon that night,Though the frost was cruel,When a poor man came in sight,Gath’ring winter fuel. “Hither, page, and stand by me,If thou know’st it, telling,Yonder peasant, who is he?Where and what … Read more
By Kuan Tao-sheng (Guan Daosheng) (Translated by Kenneth Rexroth and Ling Chung) You and IHave so much love,That itBurns like a fire,In which we bake a lump of clayMolded into a figure of youAnd a figure of me. Then we take both of them,And break them into pieces,And mix the pieces with water,And mold again … Read more
By Elizabeth Barrett Browning How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.I love thee to the depth and breadth and heightMy soul can reach, when feeling out of sightFor the ends of being and ideal grace. I love thee to the level of every day’sMost quiet need, by sun and candle-light.I love thee … Read more
By Kahlil Gibran Then Almitra spoke again and said, How shall we speak of Marriage, master? And he answered saying:You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God. But let there … Read more
By Alfred, Lord Tennyson Light, so low upon earth,You send a flash to the sun.Here is the golden close of love,All my wooing is done. O all the woods and the meadows,Woods where we hid from the wet,Stiles where we stay’d to be kind,Meadows in which we met! Light, so low in the vale,You flash … Read more
By Christina Rossetti What is the beginning? Love.What the course. Love still.What the goal. The goal is Love.On a happy hill. Is there nothing then but Love?Search we sky or earthThere is nothing out of LoveHath perpetual worth; All things flag but only Love,All things fail and flee;There is nothing left but LoveWorthy you and … Read more
By Kahlil Gibran And a youth said, Speak to us of Friendship. And he answered, saying:Your friend is your needs answered.He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.And he is your board and your fireside.For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace. When your … Read more
By Emily Brontë Love is like the wild rose-briar,Friendship like the holly-tree—The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms,But which will bloom most constantly? The wild rose-briar is sweet in spring,Its summer blossoms scent the air;Yet wait till winter comes againAnd who will call the wild-briar fair? Then scorn the silly rose-wreath nowAnd deck thee … Read more
By William Shakespeare To me, fair friend, you never can be old,For as you were when first your eye I eyed,Such seems your beauty still. Three winters coldHave from the forests shook three summers’ pride, Three beauteous springs to yellow autumn turnedIn process of the seasons have I seen,Three April perfumes in three hot Junes … Read more
By Robert Frost When a friend calls to me from the roadAnd slows his horse to a meaning walk,I don’t stand still and look aroundOn all the hills I haven’t hoed,And shout from where I am, What is it?No, not as there is a time to talk. I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground,Blade‑end … Read more