Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Poem
September 11, 1833
The Rhode Island Republican
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
The poem reflects on the essence of love through vignettes of a child's bond with its mother, a mother's grief at loss, a maiden's gaze on her beloved, a youth's adoration, and concludes that love is the spell weaving these joys and sorrows.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
From the Germantown Telegraph.
What is Love
There sat beside me as beautiful a being as ever tinted lamp shone upon. Her pretty lip was almost imperceptibly curled when I spoke of the dominion of passion; and the smile dwelt in her soft eye like a diamond sparkling in a setting of jet. "And what is love?" inquired she, in a tone that made my heart answer in its quickened throbbing. But my lips uttered no sound. I felt that then it would be madness to reply. "And what is love?" Knew she not - she, the queen lady of a thousand hearts. I went home that night less calm than I ever before parted from a lady.-"And what is love?"
Go ask the child on the mother's knee,
Who stoops to kiss his sunny cheek,
What wakes his heart beat joyously ?
His infant lips now strive to speak.
Why lies his head in her bosom warm,
As if her bosom could shield from harm?
Go watch the tear in a mother's eye,
Her trembling limbs-her looks of woe-
And mark her grief, her deep drawn sigh,
The wild lament of hopes laid low.
Ah! hark! a shriek!'tis her infant's knell.
Go ask the maid with sunlit brow,
With "eye of light and lip of song,"
Why heeds she not the revel now --
Her glance flies o'er the gladsome throng-
It rests on one-e'en his lightest word.
Though whisper'd it be, her heart has heard.
Go ask the youth that lowly kneels,
At beauty's shrine in star lit bower--
Yes, ask him thou why o'er him steals,
A flood of bliss in that lone hour.
Why throbs his heart as he hears her voice?
What secret power bids his soul rejoice?
You ask what makes the infant speak-
The mother's heart give forth the sigh?
What calls the blush on maiden's cheek
And lights with joy the manly eye?
A charm, fair girl, if its spell be wove
Around your heart, then you love- you love
What is Love
There sat beside me as beautiful a being as ever tinted lamp shone upon. Her pretty lip was almost imperceptibly curled when I spoke of the dominion of passion; and the smile dwelt in her soft eye like a diamond sparkling in a setting of jet. "And what is love?" inquired she, in a tone that made my heart answer in its quickened throbbing. But my lips uttered no sound. I felt that then it would be madness to reply. "And what is love?" Knew she not - she, the queen lady of a thousand hearts. I went home that night less calm than I ever before parted from a lady.-"And what is love?"
Go ask the child on the mother's knee,
Who stoops to kiss his sunny cheek,
What wakes his heart beat joyously ?
His infant lips now strive to speak.
Why lies his head in her bosom warm,
As if her bosom could shield from harm?
Go watch the tear in a mother's eye,
Her trembling limbs-her looks of woe-
And mark her grief, her deep drawn sigh,
The wild lament of hopes laid low.
Ah! hark! a shriek!'tis her infant's knell.
Go ask the maid with sunlit brow,
With "eye of light and lip of song,"
Why heeds she not the revel now --
Her glance flies o'er the gladsome throng-
It rests on one-e'en his lightest word.
Though whisper'd it be, her heart has heard.
Go ask the youth that lowly kneels,
At beauty's shrine in star lit bower--
Yes, ask him thou why o'er him steals,
A flood of bliss in that lone hour.
Why throbs his heart as he hears her voice?
What secret power bids his soul rejoice?
You ask what makes the infant speak-
The mother's heart give forth the sigh?
What calls the blush on maiden's cheek
And lights with joy the manly eye?
A charm, fair girl, if its spell be wove
Around your heart, then you love- you love
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Love Courtship
What keywords are associated?
Love
Maternal Affection
Romantic Longing
Youthful Adoration
Heart
Emotion
Poem Details
Title
What Is Love
Subject
Inquiry Into The Nature Of Love
Key Lines
Go Ask The Child On The Mother's Knee,
Who Stoops To Kiss His Sunny Cheek,
What Wakes His Heart Beat Joyously ?
His Infant Lips Now Strive To Speak.
Why Lies His Head In Her Bosom Warm,
As If Her Bosom Could Shield From Harm?
Go Ask The Maid With Sunlit Brow,
With "Eye Of Light And Lip Of Song,"
Why Heeds She Not The Revel Now
Her Glance Flies O'er The Gladsome Throng
It Rests On One E'en His Lightest Word.
Though Whisper'd It Be, Her Heart Has Heard.
You Ask What Makes The Infant Speak
The Mother's Heart Give Forth The Sigh?
What Calls The Blush On Maiden's Cheek
And Lights With Joy The Manly Eye?
A Charm, Fair Girl, If Its Spell Be Wove
Around Your Heart, Then You Love You Love