426. Sonnets from the Portuguese V When our two souls by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
b'EB Browning read by Classic Poetry Aloud: Giving voice to the poetry of the past.\\nwww.classicpoetryaloud.com\\n\\n--------------------------------------------\\n\\nSonnets from the Portuguese V\\nby Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806 \\u2013 1861)\\n\\nWhen our two souls stand up erect and strong,\\n Face to face, silent, drawing nigh and nigher,\\n Until the lengthening wings break into fire\\nAt either curving point,\\u2014what bitter wrong\\nCan the earth do us, that we should not long \\n Be here contented? Think! In mounting higher,\\n The angels would press on us, and aspire\\nTo drop some golden orb of perfect song\\nInto our deep, dear silence. Let us stay\\n Rather on earth, Belov\\xe8d\\u2014where the unfit\\nContrarious moods of men recoil away\\n And isolate pure spirits, and permit\\nA place to stand and love in for a day,\\n With darkness and the death-hour rounding it.\\n\\nFirst aired: 6 March 2008\\n\\nFor hundreds more poetry readings, visit the Classic Poetry Aloud index.\\n\\nReading \\xa9 Classic Poetry Aloud 2009'