John William Streets
Two shining eyes that never lose their light,
Haunting with dreams like stars within the
night ;
Two rosy lips whose magic kisses fall
Wild on my own in passion magical.
Two shining eyes that ever gaze on me,
Haunting as some old Irish melody ;
Two rosy lips that ever seem to press ,
Right thro’ my dreams, on mine their own caress.
Tho’ Hope be dim, tho’ fade Youth’s rosy flush ;
Tho’ Death may come, tho ‘ Life my spirit crush ;
Two haunting eyes will never cease to shine ;
Two magic lips will ever press on mine.
NOVEMBER, 1915 .
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Analysis (AI Assisted)
This poem captures the speaker’s deep fixation on a pair of eyes and lips that represent love, memory, and longing. The imagery of “two shining eyes” and “two rosy lips” repeats throughout, emphasizing their profound impact on the speaker’s life and dreams. These features are not just physical traits but symbols of a love so intense that it transcends time and hardship.
The poem opens with the description of the eyes as “shining” and “haunting with dreams like stars within the night.” This comparison to stars evokes a sense of eternal beauty and guidance, suggesting that the eyes are a constant source of inspiration and comfort. Similarly, the “magic kisses” of the lips are described as “wild” and “magical,” imbuing them with an almost otherworldly power to evoke passion and transform the speaker’s world.
As the poem progresses, it becomes clear that these eyes and lips are not merely present in the speaker’s waking life but also dominate their dreams. The phrase “haunting as some old Irish melody” captures the bittersweet nature of the memory—beautiful but tinged with longing. The lips’ caresses “right thro’ my dreams” reinforce this theme, blending desire with an intangible, dreamlike quality.
The closing lines broaden the scope of the poem’s sentiment. Even as the inevitabilities of life—fading hope, aging, and even death—loom, the speaker finds solace in the enduring presence of these features. The eyes “never cease to shine,” and the lips “ever press on mine,” highlighting the immortality of love and memory. This love is portrayed as unyielding, surviving the passage of time and the struggles of existence.
The simplicity of the language and the rhythmic repetition enhance the poem’s emotional resonance. By returning to the same images and phrases, the speaker reinforces their unwavering attachment. The poem conveys a love so powerful that it becomes a part of the speaker’s very essence, surviving all trials and continuing to offer light in the darkest of moments. This is a meditation on the permanence of love, even in the face of life’s transience.