Robert Graves
Robert Graves
Robert von Ranke Graves was an English poet, novelist, critic and classicist. During his long life he produced more than 140 works. Graves's poems—together with his translations and innovative analysis and interpretations of the Greek myths; his memoir of his early life, including his role in the First World War, Good-Bye to All That; and his speculative study of poetic inspiration, The White Goddess—have never been out of print...
NationalityIrish
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth24 July 1895
CountryIreland
Across two counties he can hear / And catch your words before you speak. / The woodlouse or the maggot's weak / Clamour rings in his sad ear, / And noise so slight it would surpass / Credence.
One smile relieves a heart that grievesthough deadly sad it be,and one hard look Can close the book that lovers love to see.
Children born of fairy stock Never need for shirt or frock, Never want for food or fire, Always get their heart's desire...
One gets to the heart of the matter by a series of experiences in the same pattern, but in different colors.
Love at first sight'some say misnaming Discovery of twinned helplessness Against the huge tug of procreation. But friendship at first sight? This also Catches fiercely at the surprised heart So that the cheek blanches then blushes.
One smile relieves a heart that grieves.
They carry / Time looped so river-wise about their house / There's no way in by history's road / To name or number them.
War was return of earth to ugly earth, War was foundering of sublimities, Extinction of each happy art and faith By which the world had still kept head in air, Protesting logic or protesting love, Until the unendurable moment struck - The inward scre
You reading over my shoulder, peering beneath / My writing arm.
Bullfight critics row on row crowd the enormous plaza de toros, but only one is there who knows, and he's the one who fights the bull.
No escape, / No such thing; to dream of new dimensions, / Cheating checkmate by painting the king's robe / So that he slides like a queen.
As you are woman, so be lovely:As you are lovely, so be various,Merciful as constant, constant as various,So be mine, as I yours for ever.
Why have such scores of lovely, gifted girls / Married impossible men?
Truth-loving Persians do not dwell uponThe trivial skirmish fought near Marathon.