Passion.

Were there not a matter known,
There would be no passion.

Robert Herrick

Robert Herrick

Robert Herrick was a 17th-century English lyric poet and cleric. He is known for his book of poems, "Hesperides," which includes the carpe diem poem "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time." His works are noted for their clarity, simplicity, and musical quality. Herrick was also a vicar of Dean Prior in Devon, despite being ejected during the English Civil War and later reinstated.

Robert Herrick

English

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Passion.

As a weed beneath the ocean,
As a pool beneath a tree
Answers with each breath or motion
An imperious mastery;

So my spirit swift with passion
Finds in every look a sign,
Catching in some wondrous fashion
Every mood that governs thine.

In a moment it will borrow,
Flashing in a gusty train,
Laughter and desire and sorrow
Anger and delight and pain.

Archibald Lampman

Another. (On Love.)

Where love begins, there dead thy first desire:
A spark neglected makes a mighty fire.

Robert Herrick

Presence And Absence.

When what is lov'd is present, love doth spring;
But being absent, love lies languishing.

Robert Herrick

To Jealousy.

O jealousy, that art
The canker of the heart;
And mak'st all hell
Where thou do'st dwell;
For pity be
No fury, or no firebrand to me.

Far from me I'll remove
All thoughts of irksome love:
And turn to snow,
Or crystal grow,
To keep still free,
O! soul-tormenting jealousy, from thee.

Robert Herrick

Moderation.

Let moderation on thy passions wait;
Who loves too much, too much the lov'd will hate.

Robert Herrick

Possessions.

Those possessions short-liv'd are,
Into the which we come by war.

Robert Herrick