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Thread: Robert Browning

  1. #1
    The Yodfather Stanislaw's Avatar
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    Robert Browning

    How about some of his poetry, like the Bishop orders his tomb at saint praxed church?

    ---------------
    Stanislaw Lem
    1921 - 2006, Rest In Peace.
    "Faith is, at one and the same time, absolutely necessary and altogether impossible"

  2. #2
    Pièce de Résistance Scheherazade's Avatar
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    I LOVE Robert Browning!

    Porphyria's Lover
    The rain set early in to-night,
    The sullen wind was soon awake,
    It tore the elm-tops down for spite,
    And did its worst to vex the lake:
    I listened with heart fit to break.
    When glided in Porphyria; straight
    She shut the cold out and the storm,
    And kneeled and made the cheerless grate
    Blaze up, and all the cottage warm;
    Which done, she rose, and from her form
    Withdrew the dripping cloak and shawl,
    And laid her soiled gloves by, untied
    Her hat and let the damp hair fall,
    And, last, she sat down by my side
    And called me. When no voice replied,
    She put my arm about her waist,
    And made her smooth white shoulder bare,
    And all her yellow hair displaced,
    And, stooping, made my cheek lie there,
    And spread, o'er all, her yellow hair,
    Murmuring how she loved me---she
    Too weak, for all her heart's endeavour,
    To set its struggling passion free
    From pride, and vainer ties dissever,
    And give herself to me for ever.
    But passion sometimes would prevail,
    Nor could to-night's gay feast restrain
    A sudden thought of one so pale
    For love of her, and all in vain:
    So, she was come through wind and rain.
    Be sure I looked up at her eyes
    Happy and proud; at last I knew
    Porphyria worshipped me; surprise
    Made my heart swell, and still it grew
    While I debated what to do.
    That moment she was mine, mine, fair,
    Perfectly pure and good: I found
    A thing to do, and all her hair
    In one long yellow string I wound
    Three times her little throat around,
    And strangled her. No pain felt she;
    I am quite sure she felt no pain.
    As a shut bud that holds a bee,
    I warily oped her lids: again
    Laughed the blue eyes without a stain.
    And I untightened next the tress
    About her neck; her cheek once more
    Blushed bright beneath my burning kiss:
    I propped her head up as before,
    Only, this time my shoulder bore
    Her head, which droops upon it still:
    The smiling rosy little head,
    So glad it has its utmost will,
    That all it scorned at once is fled,
    And I, its love, am gained instead!
    Porphyria's love: she guessed not how
    Her darling one wish would be heard.
    And thus we sit together now,
    And all night long we have not stirred,
    And yet God has not said a word!
    The chill, passion and feeling in this poem... simply beyond words!

    Thanks for bringing this up, Stan!
    ~
    "It is not that I am mad; it is only that my head is different from yours.”
    ~


  3. #3
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    I love that poem too, Scheherezade; I think I posted it also in another thread - nice to see others enjoy its haunting feeling too.

  4. #4
    Pièce de Résistance Scheherazade's Avatar
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    Another favorite of mine, with similar elements:
    My Last Duchess
    Robert Browning


    FERRARA

    That's my last Duchess painted on the wall,
    Looking as if she were alive. I call
    That piece a wonder, now: Fra Pandolf's hands
    Worked busily a day, and there she stands.
    Will't please you sit and look at her? I said
    "Fra Pandolf" by design, for never read
    Strangers like you that pictured countenance,
    The depth and passion of its earnest glance,
    But to myself they turned (since none puts by
    the curtain I have drawn for you, but I)
    And seemed they would ask me, if they durst,
    How such a glance came there; so not the first
    Are you to turn and ask thus. Sir, 'twas not
    Her husband's presence only, called that spot
    Of joy into the Duchess's cheek: perhaps
    Fra Pandolf chanced to say "Her mantle laps
    Over my lady's wrist too much," or Paint
    Must never hope to reproduce the faint
    Half flush that dies along her throat": such stuff
    Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enough
    For calling up that spot of you. She had
    A heart--how shall I say?--too soon made glad,
    Too easily impressed; she liked whate'er
    She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.
    Sir, 'twas all one! My favor at her breast,
    The dropping of the daylight in the West,
    The bough of cherries some officious fool
    Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule
    She rode with round the terrace--all and each
    Would draw from her alike the approving speech,
    Or blush, at least. She thanked men--good! but thanked
    Somehow--I know not how--as if she ranked
    My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name
    With anybody's gift. Who'd stoop to blame
    This sort of trifling? Even had you skill
    In speech--(which I have not)--to make your will
    Quite clear to such a one, and say, "Just this
    Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss
    Or there exceed the mark"--and if she let
    Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set
    her wits to yours, forsooth, and made excuse
    --E'en then would be some stooping; and I choose
    Never to stoop. Oh sir, she smiled, no doubt
    Whene'er I passed her; but who passed without
    Much the same smile? This grew; I gave commands;
    Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands
    As if alive. Will't please you rise? We'll meet
    the company below, then. I repeat
    The Count your master's known munificence
    Is ample warrant that no just pretense
    Of mine dowry will be disallowed
    Though his fair daughter's self, as I avowed
    At starting, is my object. Nay, we'll go
    Together down, sir. Notice Neptune, though,
    Taming a sea horse, thought a rarity,
    Which claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!
    ~
    "It is not that I am mad; it is only that my head is different from yours.”
    ~


  5. #5
    The Yodfather Stanislaw's Avatar
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    Well, is it possible that we might be given a scrap of browning?

    ---------------
    Stanislaw Lem
    1921 - 2006, Rest In Peace.
    "Faith is, at one and the same time, absolutely necessary and altogether impossible"

  6. #6
    Good morning, Campers! Jay's Avatar
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    You think it's gonna work on Chris?
    *edit* ahem, spelling... d'oh
    Last edited by Jay; 11-30-2004 at 08:19 AM.
    I have a plan: attack!

  7. #7
    Pièce de Résistance Scheherazade's Avatar
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    A gal gotta try
    ~
    "It is not that I am mad; it is only that my head is different from yours.”
    ~


  8. #8
    Good morning, Campers! Jay's Avatar
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    What if Chris likes KitKats, too? You can try braibing him as well , just in case pouts don't work
    I have a plan: attack!

  9. #9
    Pièce de Résistance Scheherazade's Avatar
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    Gotta think on this one... Cant give KitKats away that easily...

    *puts on her thinking cap on*
    ~
    "It is not that I am mad; it is only that my head is different from yours.”
    ~


  10. #10
    Good morning, Campers! Jay's Avatar
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    Well, so that you know I'm a good student... I could provide the KitKat

    *tries to imagine Scheherazade with a cap... esp in a class with a cap... *
    I have a plan: attack!

  11. #11
    Pièce de Résistance Scheherazade's Avatar
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    A cone shaped cap with the letter D on it???
    *raises a well-shaped eyebrow and looks at you*
    ~
    "It is not that I am mad; it is only that my head is different from yours.”
    ~


  12. #12
    Good morning, Campers! Jay's Avatar
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    huh? Not privy with that custom... well, the cone shaped cap was explained... D letter? Either can't remember or it was not included in that explanation
    I have a plan: attack!

  13. #13
    Pièce de Résistance Scheherazade's Avatar
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    ~
    "It is not that I am mad; it is only that my head is different from yours.”
    ~


  14. #14
    Good morning, Campers! Jay's Avatar
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    Nope, was imagining you with a baseball cap... Scheherazade in a cone shaped D cap is wrong on SO many levels.
    I have a plan: attack!

  15. #15
    Pièce de Résistance Scheherazade's Avatar
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    It feels soooooooooooooo right sometimes...

    *makes sure not to use up all her 'o's*
    ~
    "It is not that I am mad; it is only that my head is different from yours.”
    ~


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