Sonnet 23 - Is It Indeed So? If I Lay Here Dead

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

XXIII

Is it indeed so? If I lay here dead,
Wouldst thou miss any life in losing mine?
And would the sun for thee more coldly shine
Because of grave-damps falling round my head?
I marvelled, my Beloved, when I read
Thy thought so in the letter. I am thine—
But . . . so much to thee? Can I pour thy wine
While my hands tremble ? Then my soul, instead
Of dreams of death, resumes life’s lower range.
Then, love me, Love! look on me—breathe on me!
As brighter ladies do not count it strange,
For love, to give up acres and degree,
I yield the grave for thy sake, and exchange
My near sweet view of Heaven, for earth with thee!

Next 10 Poems

• Elizabeth Barrett Browning : Sonnet 24 - Let The World's Sharpness, Like A Clasping Knife
• Elizabeth Barrett Browning : Sonnet 25 - A Heavy Heart, Beloved, Have I Borne
• Elizabeth Barrett Browning : Sonnet 26 - I Lived With Visions For My Company
• Elizabeth Barrett Browning : Sonnet 27 - My Own Beloved, Who Hast Lifted Me
• Elizabeth Barrett Browning : Sonnet 28 - My Letters! All Dead Paper, Mute And White!
• Elizabeth Barrett Browning : Sonnet 29 - I Think Of Thee! - My Thoughts Do Twine And Bud
• Elizabeth Barrett Browning : Sonnet 30 - I See Thine Image Through My Tears To-night
• Elizabeth Barrett Browning : Sonnet 31 - Thou Comest! All Is Said Without A Word
• Elizabeth Barrett Browning : Sonnet 32 - The First Time That The Sun Rose On Thine Oath
• Elizabeth Barrett Browning : Sonnet 33 - Yes, Call Me By My Pet-name! Let Me Hear

Previous 10 Poems

• Elizabeth Barrett Browning : Sonnet 22 - When Our Two Souls Stand Up Erect And Strong
• Elizabeth Barrett Browning : Sonnet 21 - Say Over Again, And Yet Once Over Again
• Elizabeth Barrett Browning : Sonnet 20 - Beloved, My Beloved, When I Think
• Elizabeth Barrett Browning : Sonnet 19 - The Soul's Rialto Hath Its Merchandise
• Elizabeth Barrett Browning : Sonnet 18 - I Never Gave A Lock Of Hair Away
• Elizabeth Barrett Browning : Sonnet 17 - My Poet, Thou Canst Touch On All The Notes
• Elizabeth Barrett Browning : Sonnet 16 - And Yet, Because Thou Overcomest So
• Elizabeth Barrett Browning : Sonnet 15 - Accuse Me Not, Beseech Thee, That I Wear
• Elizabeth Barrett Browning : Sonnet 14 - If Thou Must Love Me, Let It Be For Nought
• Elizabeth Barrett Browning : Sonnet 13 - And Wilt Thou Have Me Fashion Into Speech