Bells and Pomegranates, Second Series/Earth's Immortalities

Earth's Immortalities (1845)
by Robert Browning
761826Earth's Immortalities1845Robert Browning




Fame.

See, as the prettiest graves will do in time,
Our poet's wants the freshness of its prime;
Spite of the sexton's browsing horse, the sods
Have struggled through its binding osier rods;
Headstone and half-sunk footstone lean awry,
Wanting the brick-work promised by-and-by;
How the minute grey lichens, plate o'er plate,
Have softened down the crisp-cut name and date!


Love.

So, the year's done with
     (Love me for ever!)
All March begun with,
     April's endeavour;
May-wreaths that bound me
     June needs must sever;
Now snows fall round me,
     Quenching June's fever—
     (Love me for ever!)