Never the Time and the Placeby Robert Browning
(1812-1889)
(1812-1889)
Never the time and the place
And the loved one all together!
This path--how soft to pace!
This May -- what magic weather!
Where is the loved one's face?
In a dream that loved one's face meets mine,
But the house is narrow, the place is bleak
Where, outside, rain and wind combine
With a furtive ear, if I strive to speak,
With a hostile eye at my flushing cheek,
With a malice that marks each word, each sign!
O enemy sly and serpentine,
Uncoil thee from the waking man!
Do I hold the Past
Thus firm and fast
Yet doubt if the Future hold I can?
This path so soft to pace shall lead
Thro' the magic of May to herself indeed!
Or narrow if needs the house must be,
Outside are the storms and strangers: we
Oh, close, safe, warm sleep I and she, --
I and she!
This has always been one of my very favorite poems, I would like to make a story either based upon or using these words, in this order, as a focus.
I shared this poem with a friend (one who had recently learned English as a second language) once, he asked me to explain it. "Don't you see"? I ask...
Why a rain and snow filled day put me in the mind of Mr. Browning? I can not say, perhaps it just is.
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