The Lovers' Litany
The Lovers' Litany - meaning Summary
Refrain Insists Love Persists
The poem moves through four scenes—a grey quay, a tropical night, a parched plain, and the Simla hills—each paired with a woman identified by eye color. In every scene the speaker and his beloved sing a repeating Lovers' Litany declaring that their love "can never die." The closing stanza acknowledges the speaker’s repeated romantic debts to Cupid and frames his persistent, almost ritual insistence on immortal love as both earnest and habitual.
Read Complete AnalysesEyes of grey -- a sodden quay, Driving rain and falling tears, As the steamer wears to sea In a parting storm of cheers. Sing, for Faith and Hope are high -- None so true as you and I -- Sing the Lovers' Litany: "Love like ours can never die!" Eyes of black -- a throbbing keel, Milky foam to left and right; Whispered converse near the wheel In the brilliant tropic night. Cross that rules the Southern Sky! Stars that sweep and wheel and fly, Hear the Lovers' Litany: Love like ours can never die!" Eyes of brown -- a dusy plain Split and parched with heat of June, Flying hoof and tightened rein, Hearts that beat the old, old tune. Side by side the horses fly, Frame we now the old reply Of the Lovers' Litany: "Love like ours can never die!" Eyes of blue -- the Simla Hills Silvered with the moonlight hoar; Pleading of the waltz that thrills, Dies and echoes round Benmore. "Mabel," "Officers," "Good-bye," Glamour, wine, and witchery -- On my soul's sincerity, "Love like ours can never die!" Maidens of your charity, Pity my most luckless state. Four times Cipid's debtor I -- Bankrupt in quadruplicate. Yet, despite this evil case, And a maiden showed me grace, Four-and-forty times would I Sing the Lovers' Litany: "Love like ours can never die!"
Feel free to be first to leave comment.