Friday 27 November 2009

Enduring Love


The Autumn
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Go, sit upon the lofty hill,
And turn your eyes around,
Where waving woods and waters wild
Do hymn an autumn sound.
The summer sun is faint on them --
The summer flowers depart --
Sit still -- as all transform'd to stone,
Except your musing heart.

How there you sat in summer-time,
May yet be in your mind;
And how you heard the green woods sing
Beneath the freshening wind.
Though the same wind now blows around,
You would its blast recall;
For every breath that stirs the trees,
Doth cause a leaf to fall.

Oh! like that wind, is all the mirth
That flesh and dust impart:
We cannot bear its visitings,
When change is on the heart.
Gay words and jests may make us smile,
When Sorrow is asleep;
But other things must make us smile,
When Sorrow bids us weep!

The dearest hands that clasp our hands, --
Their presence may be o'er;
The dearest voice that meets our ear,
That tone may come no more!
Youth fades; and then, the joys of youth,
Which once refresh'd our mind,
Shall come -- as, on those sighing woods,
The chilling autumn wind.

Hear not the wind -- view not the woods;
Look out o'er vale and hill-
In spring, the sky encircled them --
The sky is round them still.
Come autumn's scathe -- come winter's cold --
Come change -- and human fate!
Whatever prospect Heaven doth bound,
Can ne'er be desolate.

Images captured
at Ennsegg Castle
Enns
Upper Austria
© by Merisi

11 comments:

  1. What a lovely composition of words and pictures.

    How do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

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  2. Lovely images! I had to smile as my blog post for tomorrow is about the last of the roses.

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  3. Lovely! The photos and the words.

    Paz

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  4. My goodness these photographs are lovely. I love this softer side of Autumn.
    Sherry

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  5. Lovely poem. The pictures are poetry also. I love the one with the bench.

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  6. Simply gorgeous!!! I think you should put together a proposal to create a coffee table/gift book that blends your beautiful photography with your exquisite poetic taste! I'd buy it--you could be sure of it!!! You are brilliant...And I think Browning is pretty good, too ;-) Love you~Janine XO

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  7. Lovely poem, and great job in choosing photos to illuminate it.

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  8. Whatever prospect Heaven doth bound,
    Can ne'er be desolate.
    Beautiful words and lovely picts!

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  9. Gorgeous photos to illustrate these love verses ... marvelous post! Thanks for sharing and for visiting.
    Hugs and blessings,

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  10. Poetry + imagery + thoughtful bloggers– one of the happiest combinations I know.
    Beautiful crisp, clear, pink roses.

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