Porphyria's+Lover

 Porphyria's Lover by Robert Browning

The rain set early in tonight, The sullen wind  was soon awake, It tore the elm-tops down for spite, And did its worst to vex the lake : I listened with heart fit to break. When glided in Porphyria; straight She shut the cold out and the storm, And kneeled and made the cheerless grate   Blaze up, and all the cottage warm; Which done, she rose, and from her form Withdrew the dripping cloak and shawl, And laid her soiled gloves by, untied Her hat and let the damp hair fall , And, last, she sat down by my side And called me. When no voice replied, She put my arm about her waist, And made her smooth white shoulder bare, And all her yellow hair displaced, And, stooping, made my cheek lie there <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, And spread, o'er all, her yellow hair, Murmuring how she loved me — she Too weak, for all her heart's endeavor, To set its struggling passion free From pride, and vainer ties dissever, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And give herself to me forever <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. But passion sometimes would prevail, Nor could tonight's gay feast restrain A sudden thought of one so pale For love of her, and all in vain: So, she was come through wind and rain. Be sure <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I looked up at her eyes <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy and proud; at last l knew Porphyria worshiped me: surprise Made my heart swell, and still it grew While I debated what to do. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That moment she was mine, mine <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, fair, Perfectly pure and good: <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">I found <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A thing to do, and all her hair In one long yellow string l wound Three times her little throat around, And strangled her. No pain felt she; I am quite sure she felt no pain. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a shut bud that holds a bee <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, I warily oped her lids: again Laughed the blue eyes without a stain. And l untightened next the tress About her neck; her cheek once more Blushed bright beneath <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">my burning kiss <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">: I propped her head up as before, Only, this time my shoulder bore Her head, which droops upon it still: The smiling rosy little head, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So glad it has its utmost will <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, That all it scorned at once is fled, And I, its love, am gained instead! Porphyria's love: she guessed not how Her darling one wish would be heard. And thus we sit together now, And all night long we have not stirred, And yet <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God has not said aword!

<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">The narrator is home by himself on a dark and stormy night, waiting for Porphyria to come and visit. She arrives and makes a fire in the fireplace for the two of them. Then she sits down next to the narrator and says his name. The narrator does not respond. Porphyria guesses he is upset, so she places his hand around her waist. The narrator takes notice of her bare shoulder and her yellow hair as she is moving around. Porphyria wants to comfort him, so she takes his cheek and places it on her head. She murmurs to him how much she loves him, but also mentions that she is afraid to commit to anything serious right now. The narrator begins to become angry because he feels that there relationship has been "all in vain." He remembers that when she first walked in the house, he thought he could tell by her eyes that she worshipped him. He felt a surge of power when she looked at him in that way. It seems that Porphyria has been the one in charge recently when it comes to their relationship. He wants to keep her in a submissive state and make her "his." To accomplish this, he decides to take her hair and strangle her with it. After he does so, and she dies, he opens her eyes to make sure she has truly passed. He describes her eyes as "laughing" "without a stain." He gives her one last kiss and then sits with her all night, not moving. He wonders why God hasn't punished or praised him for the act he has committed.

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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">References
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Image 1: < http://bp0.blogger.com/_fCdfz98Qdds/RdhpSwjDWyI/AAAAAAAAACY/PhadcaHIk4s/s1600-h/female-face.jpg <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">

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