Wednesday 25 February 2009

Sir Edward Dyer's Love is Love

LOVE IS LOVE

The lowest trees have tops, the ant her gall,
The fly her spleen, the little spark his heat:
The slender hairs cast shadows, though but small,
And bees have stings, although they be not great;
Seas have their source, and so have shallow springs;
And love is love, in beggars and in kings.

Where waters smoothest run, there deepest are the fords,
The dial stirs, yet none perceives it move;
The firmest faith is found in fewest words,
The turtles do not sing, and yet they love;
True hearts have ears and eyes, no tongues to speak;
They hear and see, and sigh, and then they break.
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Sir Edward Dyer (c1543-1607)
Diplomat, poet and friend to Sir Philip Sidney (see next post below),
Sir Edward Dyer was one of John Betjeman's favourite poets.

10 comments:

  1. Love is love is one of my favourite poems - thank you for reminding me of it. Much as I like modern poetry my heart is fixed in the metaphysical era I'm afraid.

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  2. I had never read this poem before today and it's beautiful. I love all that you share with us. Thank you.

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  3. Love is love, is love, is love,is love - What more need be said?

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  4. also meant to say the art gallery I love
    john

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  5. Could you contact me, Jim Bennett at info@poetrykit.org please. Jim

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  6. Thanks for all the love-is-love-ly comments. Have today sent you an e-mail Jim.

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  7. Beautifully set to music by Dyer's contemporary, the lutenist John Dowland.

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  8. stpetric, thanks for mentioning Dowland; now there's music!

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