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QuillOak

Lyric Poem · Love

To Emilia Viviani

by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Madonna, wherefore hast thou sent to me

Sweet-basil and mignonette?

Embleming love and health, which never yet

In the same wreath might be.

Alas, and they are wet!

Is it with thy kisses or thy tears?

For never rain or dew

Such fragrance drew

From plant or flower — the very doubt endears

My sadness ever new,

The sighs I breathe, the tears I shed for thee.

Send the stars light, but send not love to me,

In whom love ever made

Health like a heap of embers soon to fade —

This poem is in the public domain.

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