porphyria's lover

the rain set early in tonight, the sullen wind was soon awake, it tore the elm tops down for spite, and did its worse to vex the lake
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 swal, and laid her soiled gloves by, united her hat and let the damp hair fall and last, she lay down by my side and called me. when no voice replied, she put her arm about her waist, and made her smooth white shoulder bare, and all her yellow hair displaced

and, stooping, made my check lie there, and spread o're all, her yellow hair,murmuring how she loved me---she too weak for all her hearts endeavor to set its struggling passion free from pride, and vainer ties dissever,and give herself to me forever. but passion sometimes would prevail, nor could tonight's gay feast restrain a sudden thought of one so pale. For her love, 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 worshiped me
surprise made my heart swell, and still it grew
while i debated what to do that moment 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 she felt
i am quite sure she felt no pain as a shut bud that holds a bee
i warily opened her lids
again blue eyes without 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
porphyrias love she guessed not how her darling one wish be heard and thus we sit together now and all night long we have not stirred and yet god has not said a word

biography

• born on May 7, 1812
• attended the University of London in 1828
• married in September 1846 to Elizabeth Barret
• after wife's death he begins to write some his best work