Down, wanton, down! Have you no shame
That at the whisper of Love's name,
Or Beauty's, presto! up you raise
Your angry head and stand at gaze?
Poor bombard-captain, sworn to reach
The ravelin and effect a breach-
Indifferent what you storm or why,
So be that in the breach you die!
Love may be blind, but Love at least
Knows what is man and what mere beast;
Or Beauty wayward, but requires
More delicacy from her squires.
Tell me, my witless, whose one boast
Could be your staunchness at the post,
When were you made a man of parts
To think fine and profess the arts?
Will many-gifted Beauty come
Bowing to your bald rule of thumb,
Or Love swear loyalty to your crown?
Be gone, have done! Down, wanton, down!
This is an excellent poem! ! ! I read it in my college composition class for the first time. The professor put us in groups to discuss what we thought the poem was about. I knew what it was about but I was too embarrassed to say it was about a ding a ling! ! ! Love this poem…
THIS is LOVE there is no SHAME no need fame no need name just a feelings of CLAIM O VALENTINE (you're not WANTON) forever mine!
The brutality of war coupled with love and patriotism in a sexual metaphor.
" Love may be blind, but love at least knows what is man and what is beast" Great wisdom. Thanks for sharing.
I wouldn't have understood the meaning of the poem, or rather to whom the poem is addressed, but for the comments of Denis Mair and Hunter. Thanks to both of you! 'Will many-gifted Beauty come Bowing to your bald rule of thumb, Or Love swear loyalty to your crown? Be gone, have done! Down, wanton, down! ' - Ha ha ha, well said!
He is addressing these words to his own organ. He doesn't want it to respond mindlessly. He wants to be attracted first of all to beauty of soul, but his wanton member thinks otherwise.
Will many-gifted Beauty come Bowing to your bald rule of thumb, Or Love swear loyalty to your crown? Be gone, have done! Down, wanton, down! a great poem indeed. tony
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
sexy, robert graves is fit as