Robert Browning
… and hearts will be turning to thoughts of love. Robert Browning knew how to write a love poem. Way back in high school I stumbled across his “Summum Bonum,” and thought it was great.
It’s short, so I’ll copy the whole poem here:
SUMMUM BONUM
All the breath and the bloom of the year in the bag of one bee:
All the wonder and wealth of the mine in the heart of one gem:
In the core of one pearl all the shade and the shine of the sea:
Breath and bloom, shade and shine,–wonder, wealth, and–how far above them–
Truth, that’s brighter than gem,
Trust, that’s purer than pearl,–
Brightest truth, purest trust in the universe,–all were for me
In the kiss of one girl.
Here’s wee love poem of my own. I’d hope Robert Browning would think it was passing fair.
LUMBERJACK LOVE
Though I am not a hirsute man nor burly,
I love you with a lumberjack-type love.
The only axe I take in hand securely,
This meager pen across the page I shove.
Please treat me not so fickle nor so surly,
Don’t shield your limbs below nor lips above.
I aim to fell you skillfully and purely;
Each word’s to chip the bark around your love.
Poetic Champions 