A LECTURE UPON THE SHADOW -- by John Donne

[Jeffersons Ghost]

A LECTURE UPON THE SHADOW

by John Donne


STAND still, and I will read to thee
A lecture, Love, in Love's philosophy.
These three hours that we have spent,
Walking here, two shadows went
Along with us, which we ourselves produced.
But, now the sun is just above our head,
We do those shadows tread,
And to brave clearness all things are reduced.
So whilst our infant loves did grow,
Disguises did, and shadows, flow
From us and our cares ; but now 'tis not so.

That love hath not attain'd the highest degree,
Which is still diligent lest others see.

Except our loves at this noon stay,
We shall new shadows make the other way.
As the first were made to blind
Others, these which come behind
Will work upon ourselves, and blind our eyes.
If our loves faint, and westerwardly decline,
To me thou, falsely, thine
And I to thee mine actions shall disguise.
The morning shadows wear away,
But these grow longer all the day ;
But O ! love's day is short, if love decay.

Love is a growing, or full constant light,
And his short minute, after noon, is night.

[housewolf]

1. Lovely.... and touching....

Both the poem and the picture.

what prompted you to post these this evening?

[Jeffersons Ghost]

5. ...

a trip into the National Forest where I lost something very dear to me.

[housewolf]

7. I hope with all my heart...

That the poem is a memorial to something lost other than the angel pictured...

And fearful at the same time... that it is.

And my heart breaks at the thought.

I am SO sorry...



:hug:

[Jeffersons Ghost]

9. it's a memorial to something lost and something gained

Both Sides, Now

Artist - Joni Mitchell

Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I've looked at clouds that way
But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way

I've looked at clouds from both sides now,
from up and down, and still somehow
it's cloud illusions I recall.
I really don't know clouds at all.

Moons and Junes and ferris wheels
the dizzy dancing way you feel
as every fairy tale comes real; I've looked at love that way.
But now it's just another show. You leave 'em laughing when you go
and if you care, don't let them know, don't give yourself away.

I've looked at love from both sides now,
from give and take, and still somehow
it's love's illusions I recall.
I really don't know love at all.

Tears and fears and feeling proud
to say 'I love you' right out loud,
dreams and schemes and circus crowds, I've looked at life that way.
But now old friends are acting strange, they shake their heads, they say
I've changed.
Well, Something's lost but something's gained in living every day.

I've looked at life from both sides now,
from win and lose, and still somehow
it's life's illusions I recall.
I really don't know life at all.

I've looked at life from both sides now,
from up and down, and still somehow
it's life's illusions I recall.
I really don't know life at all.

[EFerrari]

11. For the Roses

I heard it in the wind last night
It sounded like applause
Chilly now
End of summer
No more shiny hot nights
It was just the arbutus rustling
And the bumping of the logs
And the moon swept down black water
Like an empty spotlight

[Swamp Rat]

2. Very interesting cadence

It's been a while since I've studied the Jacobean poets. :)

[EFerrari]

3. I'm sorry, Jeffersons Ghost.

[magellan]

4. Oh....

:cry: I'm so sorry.

[TygrBright]

6. Holding you in the Light, JG...

...so hard to lose such an intimate friend.

I do think Donne has made more of the English language than anyone except possibly Shakespeare. It's so hard for me to be eloquent with words about deep feelings, I'm grateful for the words others like Donne have given us.

sadly,
Bright

[EFerrari]

8. "Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds."

And that's the hell of it. I lost my girl last August, have a new 8 mo. old puppy and it's still nearly impossible to take it in.

:hug:

[reyd reid reed]

10. What a beautiful tribute

I'm so sorry.

:hug: