Poems List

Explore poems from our collection

Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet XIII: And Wilt Thou Have Me

Sonnet XIII: And Wilt Thou Have Me

And wilt thou have me fashion into speech
The love I bear thee, finding words enough,
And hold the torch out, …

385
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet XII: Indeed This Very Love

Sonnet XII: Indeed This Very Love

Indeed this very love which is my boast,
And which, when rising up from breast to brow,
Doth crown me with ruby…

422
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet XI: And Therefore If to Love

Sonnet XI: And Therefore If to Love

And therefore if to love can be desert,
I am not all unworthy. Cheeks as pale
As these you see, and trembling…

424
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet X: Yet Love, Mere Love

Sonnet X: Yet Love, Mere Love

Yet, love, mere love, is beautiful indeed
And worthy of acceptation. Fire is bright,
Let temple burn, or flax; an e…

409
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet VIII: What Can I Give Thee Back

Sonnet VIII: What Can I Give Thee Back

What can I give thee back, O liberal
And princely giver, who hast brought the gold
And purple of thine hea…

375
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet VII: The Face of All the World

Sonnet VII: The Face of All the World

The face of all the world is changed, I think,
Since first I heard the footsteps of thy soul
Move still, oh…

379
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet V: I Lift My Heavy Heart Up

Sonnet V: I Lift My Heavy Heart Up

I lift my heavy heart up solemnly,
As once Electra her sepulchral urn,
And, looking in thine eyes, I overturn …

404
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet VI: Go From Me

Sonnet VI: Go From Me

Go from me. Yet I feel that I shall stand
Henceforth in thy shadow. Nevermore
Alone upon the threshold of my door
O…

396
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet IX

Sonnet IX

Can it be right to give what I can give ?
To let thee sit beneath the fall of tears
As salt as mine, and hear the sighing years

413
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet IV

Sonnet IV

Thou hast thy calling to some palace-floor,
Most gracious singer of high poems ! where
The dancers will break footing, from the care

436
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet II

Sonnet II

But only three in all God's universe
Have heard this word thou hast said,--Himself, beside
Thee speaking, and me listening ! and replie…

471
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet III

Sonnet III

Unlike are we, unlike, O princely Heart !
Unlike our uses and our destinies.
Our ministering two angels look surprise
On one a…

416
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet 44 - Beloved, thou hast brought me many flowers

Sonnet 44 - Beloved, thou hast brought me many flowers

XLIV

Beloved, thou hast brought me many flowers
Plucked in the garden, all the sum…

448
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet 42 - 'My future will not copy fair my past'

Sonnet 42 - 'My future will not copy fair my past'

XLII

'My future will not copy fair my past'-
I wrote that once; and thinking at my side…

410
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet 38 - First time he kissed me, he but only kissed

Sonnet 38 - First time he kissed me, he but only kissed

XXXVIII

First time he kissed me, he but only kissed
The fingers of this hand wher…

393
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet 40 - Oh, yes! they love through all this world of ours!

Sonnet 40 - Oh, yes! they love through all this world of ours!

XL

Oh, yes! they love through all this world of ours!
I will not gainsay l…

390
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet 34 - With the same heart, I said, I'll answer thee

Sonnet 34 - With the same heart, I said, I'll answer thee

XXXIV

With the same heart, I said, I'll answer thee
As those, when thou shalt c…

411
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet 36 - When we met first and loved, I did not build

Sonnet 36 - When we met first and loved, I did not build

XXXVI

When we met first and loved, I did not build
Upon the event with marble. C…

419
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet 32 - The first time that the sun rose on thine oath

Sonnet 32 - The first time that the sun rose on thine oath

XXXII

The first time that the sun rose on thine oath
To love me, I looked forw…

413
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet 30 - I see thine image through my tears to-night

Sonnet 30 - I see thine image through my tears to-night

XXX

I see thine image through my tears to-night,
And yet to-day I saw thee smilin…

418
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet 28 - My letters! all dead paper, mute and white!

Sonnet 28 - My letters! all dead paper, mute and white!

XXVIII

My letters! all dead paper, mute and white!
And yet they seem alive and qu…

441
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet 26 - I lived with visions for my company

Sonnet 26 - I lived with visions for my company

XXVI

I lived with visions for my company
Instead of men and women, years ago,
And…

410
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet 22 - When our two souls stand up erect and strong

Sonnet 22 - When our two souls stand up erect and strong

XXII

When our two souls stand up erect and strong,
Face to face, silent, drawing…

437
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet 24 - Let the world's sharpness, like a clasping knife

Sonnet 24 - Let the world's sharpness, like a clasping knife

XXIV

Let the world's sharpness, like a clasping knife,
Shut in upon itself a…

396