And wilt thou have me fashion into speech The love I bear…
“And wilt thou have me fashion into speech The love I bear thee, finding words enough, And hold the torch out, while the winds are rough, Between our faces, to cast light on each? - I dropt it at thy feet. I cannot teach My hand to hold my spirits so far off From myself--me--that I should bring thee proof In words, of love hid in me out of reach. Nay, let the silence of my womanhood Commend my woman-love to thy belief, - Seeing that I stand unwon, however wooed, And rend the garment of my life, in brief, By a most dauntless, voiceless fortitude, Lest one touch of this heart convey its grief.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker struggles to express deep love, fearing words are insufficient, and turns to silence as a more honest testament.
In simple terms: Love may be beyond words; silence can speak.
Key Takeaway
Embrace honest expression over forced words.
Themes
love
expression
silence
vulnerability
communication
Mood
melancholic
intimate
Type
literary
emotional
When to use this quote
- romantic confession
- personal letters
- artistic creation
- emotional support
Key Concepts
poetry
emotional honesty
ineffability
Questions to Reflect On
- What moments have you felt words failed you?
- When is silence more powerful than speech?
A Different Perspective
Silence may be misinterpreted as lack of feeling.