MORE STRONG THAN TIME
by: Victor Hugo (1802-1885)
- INCE I have
set my lips to your full cup, my sweet,
- Since I my pallid face between your hands have laid,
- Since I have known your soul, and all the bloom of it,
- And all the perfume rare, now buried in the shade;
-
- Since it was given to me to hear on happy while,
- The words wherein your heart spoke all its mysteries,
- Since I have seen you weep, and since I have seen you smile,
- Your lips upon my lips, and your eyes upon my eyes;
-
- Since I have known above my forehead glance and gleam,
- A ray, a single ray, of your star, veiled always,
- Since I have felt the fall, upon my lifetime's stream,
- Of one rose petal plucked from the roses of your days;
-
- I now am bold to say to the swift changing hours,
- Pass, pass upon your way, for I grow never old,
- Fleet to the dark abysm with all your fading flowers,
- One rose that none may pluck, within my heart I hold.
-
- Your flying wings may smite, but they can never spill
- The cup fulfilled of love, from which my lips are wet;
- My heart has far more fire than you can frost to chill,
- My soul more love than you can make my soul forget.
This English translation of "More
Strong than Time" was composed by Andrew Lang (1844-1912). |
MORE
POEMS BY VICTOR HUGO |
|