Vort Posted October 14, 2019 Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 The story goes that Thomas Moore, the famous 19th-century Irish poet and composer, married a beautiful woman named Elizabeth who contracted smallpox. She survived the dread disease, but as was common with smallpox survivors, was left badly scarred. She subsequently locked herself in her room, refusing to come out for shame of her face being so disfigured. Thomas then wrote this poem to reassure her. I hope the story is true; it's a nice story, in any case. This is one of a few poems I have actually bothered to commit to memory. Believe me, if all those endearing young charms Which I gaze on so fondly today Were to change by tomorrow and fleet in mine arms, Like fairy gifts fading away, Thou wouldst still be ador'd as this moment thou art, Let thy loveliness fade as it will; And around the dear ruin, each wish of my heart Would entwine itself verdantly still. It is not while beauty and youth are thine own And thy cheeks unprofan'd by a tear That the fervor and faith of a soul can be known To which time will but make thee more dear. No, the heart that has truly lov'd never forgets, But as truly loves on to the close As the sunflower turns on her god, when he sets, The same look which she turned when he rose. (For those my age or older, this might seem familiar if you hear the tune the song has traditionally been set to. Think Saturday morning cartoons.) classylady, Midwest LDS, Just_A_Guy and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilentOne Posted October 17, 2019 Report Share Posted October 17, 2019 On 10/14/2019 at 5:28 PM, Vort said: For those my age or older, this might seem familiar if you hear the tune the song has traditionally been set to. Think Saturday morning cartoons. I recognized the poem immediately, but don't find the tune familiar at all. But then, I'm not your age or older. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie123 Posted October 17, 2019 Report Share Posted October 17, 2019 On 10/15/2019 at 12:28 AM, Vort said: (For those my age or older, this might seem familiar if you hear the tune the song has traditionally been set to. Think Saturday morning cartoons.) However beautiful the poem/song is, I can't hear it without thinking of Bugs Bunny and dynamite! Vort and Midwest LDS 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.