Classic Love Poems
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Thomas Hood (1799-1845) was an English poet, journalist, essayist, and humorist. He took on social issues, like grave robbing and the selling of corpses to anatomists, and injected humor into his writing—treating the leading events of the day in caricature, without personal malice, and with an undercurrent of sympathy. He is best known for his poem, The Song of the Shirt (1843), a lament for a poor London seamstress who was compelled to sell the shirts she made, the proceeds of which lawfully belonged to her employer, in order to feed her malnourished and ailing child.
“Song of the Shirt”
by Anna Blunden, 1854
With fingers weary and worn,
With eyelids heavy and red,
A woman sat, in unwomanly rags,
Plying her needle and thread.
—from The Song of the Shirt
Serenade
Ah, sweet, thou little knowest how
I wake and passionate watches keep;
And yet while I address thee now,
Methinks thou smilest in thy sleep.
‘Tis sweet enough to make me weep,
That tender thought of love and thee,
That while the world is hush’d so deep,
Thy soul’s perhaps awake to me!
Sleep on, sleep on, sweet bride of sleep!
With golden visions of thy dower,
While I this midnight vigil keep,
And bless thee in thy silent bower;
To me ’tis sweeter than the power
Of sleep, and fairy dreams unfurl’d,
That I alone, at this still hour,
In patient love outwatch the world.
I Love Thee
I love thee—I love thee!
‘Tis all that I can say;
It is my vision in the night,
My dreaming in the day;
The very echo of my heart,
The blessing when I pray:
I love thee—I love thee!
Is all that I can say.
I love thee—I love thee!
Is ever on my tongue;
In all my proudest poesy
That chorus still is sung;
It is the verdict of my eyes,
Amidst the gay and young:
I love thee—I love thee!
A thousand maids among.
I love thee—I love thee!
Thy bright and hazel glance,
The mellow lute upon those lips,
Whose tender tones entrance;
But most, dear heart of hearts, thy proofs
That still these words enhance.
I love thee—I love thee!
Whatever be thy chance.
on “Hood, Thomas”
