Dear Fanny.

"She has beauty, but still you must keep your heart cool;
    "She has wit, but you mustn't be caught, so;"
Thus Reason advises, but Reason's a fool,
    And 'tis not the first time I have thought so,
        Dear Fanny.
    'Tis not the first time I have thought so.

"She is lovely; then love her, nor let the bliss fly;
    "'Tis the charm of youth's vanishing season;"
Thus Love has advised me and who will deny
    That Love reasons much better than Reason,
        Dear Fanny?
    Love reasons much better than Reason.

Thomas Moore

Thomas Moore was an Irish poet, singer, and songwriter, celebrated for his Irish Melodies, which are now considered a staple of Irish cultural heritage. Born on May 28, 1779, in Dublin, Ireland, Moore gained fame for his lyrical songs, many of which were set to traditional Irish tunes. Not only a poet, but he was also a staunch advocate of Irish nationalism, often incorporating themes of national identity and resistance into his work. Moore's influential collection 'Irish Melodies' became popular in both Ireland and Britain and helped to define the literary output of the era. He passed away on February 25, 1852, but his legacy in Irish literature and music endures.

Thomas Moore

To Mrs,---. On Her Beautiful Translation Of Voiture's Kiss.

Thomas Moore, Simple Poetry

Tory Pledges.

Thomas Moore, Simple Poetry

One Dear Smile.

Thomas Moore, Simple Poetry

A Sad Case.

Thomas Moore, Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

Love And Reason.

        Quand l'homme commence à raissonner,
        il cesse de sentir.--J. J. ROUSSEAU.


'Twas in the summer time so sweet,
    When hearts and flowers are both in season,
That--who, of all the world, should meet,
    One early dawn, but Love and Reason!

Love told his dream of yesternight,
    While Reason talked about the weather;
The morn, in sooth, was fair and bright,
    And on they took their way together.

The boy in many a gambol flew,
    While Reason, like a Juno, stalked,
And from her portly figure threw
    A lengthened shadow, as she walked.

No wonder Love, as on they past,
    Should find that sunny morning chill,
For still the shadow Reason cast
Fell o'er the boy, and cooled him still.

In vain...

Thomas Moore

When On The Lip The Sigh Delays.

When on the lip the sigh delays,
    As if 'twould linger there for ever;
When eyes would give the world to gaze,
    Yet still look down and venture never;
When, tho' with fairest nymphs we rove,
    There's one we dream of more than any--
If all this is not real love,
    'Tis something wondrous like it, Fanny!

To think and ponder, when apart,
    On all we've got to say at meeting;
And yet when near, with heart to heart,
    Sit mute and listen to their beating:
To see but one bright object move,
    The only moon, where stars are many--
If all this is not downright love,
    I prithee say what is, my Fanny!

When Hope foretells the brightest, best,
    Tho' Reason on the darkest reckons;
When Passion drives us to the west,
...

Thomas Moore

Fanny, Dearest.

Yes! had I leisure to sigh and mourn,
    Fanny, dearest, for thee I'd sigh;
And every smile on my cheek should turn
    To tears when thou art nigh.
But, between love, and wine, and sleep,
    So busy a life I live,
That even the time it would take to weep
    Is more than my heart can give.
Then bid me not to despair and pine,
    Fanny, dearest of all the dears!
The Love that's ordered to bathe in wine,
    Would be sure to take cold in tears.

Reflected bright in this heart of mine,
    Fanny, dearest, thy image lies;
But, ah, the mirror would cease to shine,
    If dimmed too often with sighs.
They lose the half of beauty's light,
    Who view it through sorrow's tear;
And 'tis but to see thee truly bright
    That I keep my eye-beam c...

Thomas Moore

Reason, Folly, And Beauty. (Italian Air.)

Reason and Folly and Beauty, they say,
Went on a party of pleasure one day:
    Folly played
    Around the maid,
The bells of his cap rung merrily out;
    While Reason took
    To his sermon-book--
Oh! which was the pleasanter no one need doubt,
Which was the pleasanter no one need doubt.

Beauty, who likes to be thought very sage.
Turned for a moment to Reason's dull page,
    Till Folly said,
    "Look here, sweet maid!"--
The sight of his cap brought her back to herself;
    While Reason read
    His leaves of lead,
With no one to mind him, poor sensible elf!
No,--no one to mind him, poor sensible elf!

Then Reason grew jealous of Folly's gay cap;
Had he that on, he her heart might entrap--
    "There it is,"
    Quoth F...

Thomas Moore

Song. Fanny, Dearest.

Yes! had I leisure to sigh and mourn,
    Fanny dearest, for thee I'd sigh;
And every smile on my cheek should turn
    To tears when thou art nigh.
But between love and wine and sleep,
    So busy a life I live,
That even the time it would take to weep
    Is more than my heart can give.
Then wish me not to despair and pine,
    Fanny, dearest of all the dears!
The Love that's ordered to bathe in wine,
    Would be sure to take cold in tears.

Reflected bright in this heart of mine,
    Fanny dearest, thy image lies;
But ah! the mirror would cease to shine,
    If dimmed too often with sighs.
They lose the half of beauty's light,
    Who view it thro' sorrow's tear;
And 'tis but to see thee truly bright
    That I keep my eye-beams clear.<...

Thomas Moore

To .... ....

Never mind how the pedagogue proses,
    You want not antiquity's stamp;
A lip, that such fragrance discloses,
    Oh! never should smell of the lamp.

Old Cloe, whose withering kiss
    Hath long set the Loves at defiance,
Now, done with the science of bliss,
    May take to the blisses of science.

But for you to be buried in books--
    Ah, Fanny, they're pitiful sages,
Who could not in one of your looks
    Read more than in millions of pages.

Astronomy finds in those eyes
    Better light than she studies above;
And Music would borrow your sighs
    As the melody fittest for Love.

Your Arithmetic only can trip
    If to count your own charms you endeavor;
And Eloquence glows on your lip
    When you swear...

Thomas Moore