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A Match If love were what the rose is, And I were like the…

“A Match If love were what the rose is, And I were like the leaf, Our lives would grow together In sad or singing weather, Blown fields or flowerful closes, Green pasture or gray grief; If love were what the rose is, And I were like the leaf. If I were what the words are, And love were like the…” quote by Algernon Charles Swinburne
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““A Match If love were what the rose is, And I were like the leaf, Our lives would grow together In sad or singing weather, Blown fields or flowerful closes, Green pasture or gray grief; If love were what the rose is, And I were like the leaf. If I were what the words are, And love were like the tune, With double sound and single Delight our lips would mingle, With kisses glad as birds are That get sweet rain at noon; If I were what the words are, And love were like the tune. If you were life, my darling, And I your love were death, We'd shine and snow together Ere March made sweet the weather With daffodil and starling And hours of fruitful breath; If you were life, my darling, And I your love were death. If you were thrall to sorrow, And I were page to joy, We'd play for lives and seasons With loving looks and treasons And tears of night and morrow And laughs of maid and boy; If you were thrall to sorrow, And I were page to joy. If you were April's lady, And I were lord in May, We'd throw with leaves for hours And draw for days with flowers, Till day like night were shady And night were bright like day; If you were April's lady, And I were lord in May. If you were queen of pleasure, And I were king of pain, We'd hunt down love together, Pluck out his flying-feather, And teach his feet a measure, And find his mouth a rein; If you were queen of pleasure, And I were king of pain.””

Algernon Charles Swinburne

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The poem imagines love as a harmonious duet where partners mirror each other's emotions, creating a unified, ever‑changing experience.

In simple terms: Love as a perfect, ever‑changing duet.

Key Takeaway

Seek balance and reciprocity in relationships.

Themes

love union duet metaphor nature emotion

Mood

passionate introspective

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

  • relationships
  • creative collaboration
  • emotional support
  • shared artistic projects

Key Concepts

romantic idealism interdependence artistic expression

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you maintain self‑identity in a partnership?
  • What does balance look like for you?
A Different Perspective

Idealizing perfect symmetry can ignore individual needs.

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