• Home
  • About
  • Reflections
  • Poetry
    • My Poems
    • Guest Poets
    • Selected Poems
    • Classic Poets
    • Classic Love Poems
    • Zen Poetry, Haiku, and Wisdom
  • Essays
  • Inspiration
    • Love
    • Mandalas and More
    • Native Voices
    • Petals of Sunshine
    • Positive Reinforcement
    • Videos to Inspire and Motivate
  • Quotes
    • Flowers and Gardens
    • Native American Wisdom
    • Peaceful Thoughts
  • Guestbook
  • Sitemap

Inspiration for the Spirit

A lovely place to wander for poetry and inspiration to soothe the soul

Thomas Hood

← Previous Poet | Next Poet →

Robert HoodThomas Hood (1799-1845) was an English poet, journalist, essayist, and humorist. Though he wrote tender love poems, undoubtedly to his wife to whom he was devoted, he took on social issues of the day and is best known for more serious work. His poem, The Song of the Shirt (1843), for instance, is 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.

PASSIONATE . TENDER . AMOROUS
French advertising card of harvest woman

click to enlarge

Ruth

She stood breast high amid the corn,
Clasped by the golden light of morn,
Like the sweetheart of the sun,
Who many a glowing kiss had won.

On her cheek an autumn flush,
Deeply ripened;—such a blush
In the midst of brown was born,
Like red poppies grown with corn.

Round her eyes her tresses fell,
Which were blackest none could tell,
But long lashes veiled a light,
That had else been all too bright.

And her hat, with shady brim,
Made her tressy forehead dim;—
Thus she stood amid the stooks,
Praising God with sweetest looks:—

Sure, I said, heaven did not mean,
Where I reap thou shouldst but glean,
Lay thy sheaf adown and come,
Share my harvest and my home.

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.

Illustration: French advertising card of harvest woman via The Graphics Fairy.
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

The Poetry Pages

My Poems
Guest Poets
Selected Poems
Classic Poets
Classic Love Poems
Zen Poetry, Haiku, and Wisdom

Featured Poets

  • Eliza Acton
  • Anne Bradstreet
  • Elizabeth Barrett Browning
  • Robert Browning
  • Robert Burns
  • George Gordon, Lord Byron
  • Samuel Taylor Coleridge
  • William Cowper
  • John Donne
  • Johann von Goethe
  • Robert Herrick
  • Thomas Hood
  • John Keats
  • D. H. Lawrence
  • Richard Lovelace
  • Amy Lowell
  • Christopher Marlowe
  • Aleksandr Pushkin
  • Sir Walter Ralegh
  • Christina Rossetti
  • Dante Gabriel Rossetti
  • William Shakespeare
  • Percy Bysshe Shelley
  • Edmund Spenser
  • Alfred, Lord Tennyson
  • John Wilbye
  • Ella Wheeler Wilcox
  • William Wordsworth

Explore and Enjoy

aging anger autumn being female cancer children comfort & compassion death divorce empty nest family father flowers & gardens friends & friendship grief & sadness happiness hope & optimism illness inner peace inspiring life & living loneliness love love lost loving yourself mandala marriage mindful living mother motherhood music Native American nature people places poetry & writing positive attitude quotes relationships sex & sexuality simplicity solitude spirit spring winter

Looking for a specific poet or author?

Inspiration for the Spirit EST 2002 • Copyright © 2025 Patricia Petro • LOGIN