poetry moment


My Sweetest Lesbia

My sweetest Lesbia, let us live and love,
And though the sager sort our deeds reprove,
Let us not weigh them. Heaven’s great lamps do dive
Into their west, and straight again revive,
But soon as once set is our little light,
Then must we sleep one ever-during night.

If all would lead their lives in love like me,
Then bloody swords and armor should not be;
No drum nor trumpet peaceful sleeps should move,
Unless alarm came from the camp of love.
But fools do live, and waste their little light,
And seek with pain their ever-during night.

When timely death my life and fortune ends,
Let not my hearse be vexed with mourning friends,
But let all lovers, rich in triumph, come
And with sweet pastimes grace my happy tomb;
And Lesbia, close up thou my little light,
And crown with love my ever-during night.

“My Sweetest Lesbia” by Thomas Campion from The Poetical Works of
Thomas Campion

sent to me by a friend… thank you sweetheart…

*hugs*

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Great poem. The attribution is not quite right. It is a Roman poem, by the poet Catullus, for his mistress. It begins:

“Vivamus mea Lesbia atque amemus”

“Let us live, my Lesbia, also let us love.”

Campion translated Catullus’ works.

Hi corey,

Oh! Well thanks for the correction then! As I referenced at the bottom of this post — this was sent to me by a friend, so I simply copied what was sent into a post and published it. I wasn’t familiar with this poem, so I went by what was sent to me.

Lit and poetry aren’t my area of expertise! But thank you for adding the correct lines and author! :D

nina