Two Lovers
Two lovers by a moss-grown spring:
They leaned soft cheeks together there,
Mingled the dark and sunny hair,
And heard the wooing thrushes sing.
O budding time!
O love’s blest prime!
Two wedded from the portal stept:
The bells made happy carolings,
The air was soft as fanning wings,
White petals on the pathway slept.
O pure-eyed bride!
O tender pride!
Two faces o’er a cradle bent:
Two hands above the head were locked:
These pressed each other while they rocked,
Those watched a life that love had sent.
O solemn hour!
O hidden power!
Two parents by the evening fire:
The red light fell about their knees
On heads that rose by slow degrees
Like buds upon the lily spire.
O patient life!
O tender strife!
The two still sat together there,
The red light shone about their knees;
But all the heads by slow degrees
Had gone and left that lonely pair.
O voyage fast!
O vanished past!
The red light shone upon the floor
And made the space between them wide;
They drew their chairs up side by side,
Their pale cheeks joined, and said, “Once more!”
O memories!
O past that is!”
This poem was written in 1866 by British poet and novelist George Eliot, pen name Mary Ann Evans
Here she depicts the different phases of a true love story where the theme of love is intertwined with that of time and the two lovers witness the varying stages in their relationship starting from courtship, up to old age and memories.
In her first novel “Adam Bede”, published in 1859, a great success that raised curiosity about the identity of the author behind George Eliot’s name, Mary Ann Evans had already written:
“What greater thing is there for two human souls, than to feel that they are joined for life–to strengthen each other in all labor, to rest on each other in all sorrow, to minister to each other in all pain, to be one with each other in silent unspeakable memories at the moment of the last parting?”
Due amanti
Due amanti accanto a una fonte muscosa:
le morbide guance accostarono
mescolando i chiari e gli scuri capelli,
ascoltarono il canto dei tordi innamorati.
Oh tempo in fiore!
Oh beato primo amore!
Due sposi uscirono dal portale:
felici le campane suonavano,
l’aria era morbida come un battito d’ali,
petali bianchi riposavano sul sentiero .
Oh occhi pieni d’incanto!
Oh tenero vanto!
Due volti si chinarono su una culla:
due mani sopra la testa avevan intrecciato
le premevano l’un l’altra mentre cullavano
ammirando la vita che l’amore aveva mandato.
Oh solenne momento!
Oh nascosto portento!
Due genitori accanto al fuoco serale:
cadeva bagliore rosso sulle loro ginocchia
e sulle teste che piano piano crescevano
come boccioli in cima ai gigli.
Oh paziente intesa!
Oh tenera contesa!
I due erano ancora seduti insieme:
brillava bagliore rosso intorno alle ginocchia;
ma tutte le teste piano piano
se n’erano andate lasciando sola la coppia.
Oh viaggio spedito!
Oh passato sparito!
Brillava bagliore rosso sul pavimento
rendendo ampio lo spazio tra di loro;
accostarono le sedie
e le guance pallide dicendo: “Ancora una volta!”
Oh reminiscenza!
Oh del passato permanenza!
(trad: L.Z.)
La poesia mostra le diverse fasi di una vera storia d’amore in cui il tema dell’amore e quello del tempo sono strettamente intrecciati.
I due amanti assistono così alle diverse fasi della loro relazione: a partire dal corteggiamento, fino alla vecchiaia e ai ricordi
Questa poesia fu composta nel 1866 dalla scrittrice inglese George Eliot, pseudonimo di Mary Ann Evans.
Vi sono rappresentate le diverse fasi di un amore vero e il cui tema si intreccia con quello del tempo. Così seguiamo i due amanti nelle loro lunga relazione a partire dal corteggiamento, fino alla vecchiaia piena di ricordi.
Nel suo primo romanzo “Adam Bede”, pubblicato nel 1859, un grande successo che aumentò la curiosità sull’identità dell’autore che si firmava George Eliot, Mary Ann Evans aveva già scritto:
“Cosa c’è di più grande per due anime umane che sentirsi unite per la vita – rafforzarsi a vicenda in ogni fatica, appoggiarsi l’uno sull’altro in ogni dolore, assistersi in ogni dolore, essere insieme nei silenziosi ricordi indescrivibili al momento dell’ultima separazione?“
Image: The Lovers, 1855, by William Powell Frith
That poemm is beautiful, I find her writing in general very impressive.
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I agree and thank you very much
I am very pleased that you liked this poem and am happy to receive your kind support! 🙂
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Bellissima poesia, grazie Luisa 🌹Buon pomeriggio 🤗😘
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Pure a me è piaciuta molto, anche se, data la mia storia personale, l’ho trovata un po’ troppo da favola (… e vissero felici e contenti) ❣️
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Maserful explanation of love as the couple evolves and matures. You even managed to make the Italian translation rhyme. Impressive feat, Luisa.
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I like it when I am able to make the harmony of sounds present in Italian, too. But very often it is not so easy for me. In fact, sometimes I struggle to translate some of your beautiful poems, but I give up because the Italian translation does not honor the originality and musicality of your lines.
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At least you try. 😉👍🙏💝
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🙏🤗❣️
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La poetessa ha ben illustrato, magari edulcorandolo un po’, il cerchio della vita.
Mi ha colpito molto questo pezzo della poesia :
“I due erano ancora seduti insieme:
brillava bagliore rosso intorno alle ginocchia;
ma tutte le teste piano piano
se n’erano andate lasciando sola la coppia.
Oh viaggio spedito!
Oh passato sparito!”
Perchè è proprio così. Ci si affanna a far crescere i figli, a cercare di migliorare la nostra situazione sociale, e si arriva ad un punto in cui sembra non aver fatto niente: ” Oh passato sparito”
Triste constatazione ma vera!!!!
Ciao Luisa sempre bello leggerti! Buona serata ( da noi sta diventando buio anche se non sono ancora le 17 )
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Oh Vitty cara, anche qui ormai è buio, ma non totalmente: un bel blu cobalto tendete al nero
Buona serata 😘
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Mary Ann mi piace sempre di più. Questa poesia che percorre le tappe di un amore che dura tutta la vita è splendida.
GRAZIE Luisa!
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Sono proprio felice di sapere che ti è piaciuta
Un caro abbraccio, Claudia🤗💝🤗
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Contraccambio l’abbraccio ❤
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This poem is a beauty Luisa, loved reading it. 💖
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Thanks a lot, dear Daphny.
Your kind words warmed my heart.💜💝💜
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You’re most welcome dear, its always a pleasure 🤗❤️
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🥰🥰🥰
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Louisa, I am so delighted t read your beautiful offering today. The poem, True Love,
is so sheer and yet deep. As you say, it beautifully describes the stages of love from
courting to old age. All filled with love for each other and what they created together. 🤗.
Miriam
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I am really happy to know that you found this poem beautiful, Miriam
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You are such an encouragement. Thank you for always visiting and leaving your wonderful messages 💝💝💝
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Beautiful poem !
Buona serata, Luisa.
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Grazie e buona serata a te, Jean Louis
Bisous bisous 🙂
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🌹
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La poesia è molto bella.
Fa pensare a quelle coppie di nonnini che vivono insieme la vecchiaia, con i loro ricordi e i loro sospiri.
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Sì, e penso che quella sia la fortuna più grande🌷🌷🌷
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Questa poesia è davvero meravigliosa, descrive alla perfezione l’amore e la vita di foppia sino alla senilità ❤. Grazie di tutto cara Luisa e buonacserata😘
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Grazie a te, carissima Giusy!
Buona giornata 🌷🌷🌷
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Il viaggio della vita in poesia..
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Sì, il viaggio di una vita felice ❣️❣️❣️
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[…] True Love […]
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Thank you for sharing 💜💜💜
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thank you it was wonderful to hear is great to be back on again I have a wonderful neighbor and friend and he helped me get back on your blog and soon I will be back on mine God willing so much has happened as you know because you see me on the Facebook with the two eye surgeries but here we are again God bless you and luisa I love you and thank you .
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Welcome back, dearest Sharon🥰
I am happy that you have managed to return to the blog
Sending you a big hug🌷❣️🌷
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Beautiful! I need to read more of her work. The passage you include at the end is so full of love, wisdom and insights. Thank you so much Luisa for sharing her art, heart and poetry. Love and light, Deborah.
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Thank you for reading and commenting, Deborah!
I’m glad that you enjoyed her work. 💓
I hope that you have a lovely day 🦋🌸
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Splendida poesia D’amore. Buongiorno Luisa!
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Che bello sapere che anche tu la trovi stupenda.
Un abbraccio e buon pomeriggio, Grazia❣️
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[…] True Love […]
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Thank you very much for reblogging! 🙏🌷🙏
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This is lovely. Love this 💚✨
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Thank you very much
You are really kind
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You’re welcome! ✨❤
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bellissima poesia. Serena serata
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🌷🙏🌷
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So awesome beauty of the poem full of love 💕 🌷every couple their true love blooms, such
Beautiful and graceful life can enjoy 👍🏻😊♥️ have a lovely Day 🙏❄️
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It is an almost heavenly gift to be able to enjoy a long life full of love together ❣️❣️❣️
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🌷🙏♥️🌷
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Dear Luisa,
I definitely concur with Thattamma. Oh, what a lovely and sweet poem about true love! Thank you. Did you have a lovely Valentine’s Day?
To reciprocate and resonate with the spirit of your excellent post here, I would like to invite you to visit my Valentine-inspired post entitled “🏝💗 Romancing by the Beach and Sea with True Love and Reminiscence 😶🌫🐚🐟“, available at
https://soundeagle.wordpress.com/2022/02/14/romancing-by-the-beach-and-sea-with-true-love-and-reminiscence/
A new season has just arrived. Wishing both you and Thattamma a productive week and a wonderful March doing or enjoying whatever that satisfies you the most, whether aesthetically, physically, intellectually or spiritually!
Yours sincerely,
SoundEagle
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Dear Luisa,
Hello! I definitely concur with Thattamma. Oh, what a lovely and sweet poem about true love! Thank you. Did you have a lovely Valentine’s Day?
To reciprocate and resonate with the spirit of your excellent post here, I would like to invite you to visit my latest Valentine-inspired post entitled “🏝💗 Romancing by the Beach and Sea with True Love and Reminiscence 😶🌫🐚🐟“.
A new season has just arrived. Wishing both you and Thattamma a productive week and a wonderful March doing or enjoying whatever that satisfies you the most, whether aesthetically, physically, intellectually or spiritually!
Yours sincerely,
SoundEagle
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Dear Luisa,
Hi there! I definitely concur with Thattamma. Oh, what a lovely and sweet poem about true love! Thank you. Did you have a lovely Valentine’s Day?
To reciprocate and resonate with the spirit of your excellent post here, I would like to invite you to visit my Valentine-inspired post entitled “Romancing by the Beach and Sea with True Love and Reminiscence“, available at
https://soundeagle.wordpress.com/2022/02/14/romancing-by-the-beach-and-sea-with-true-love-and-reminiscence/
A new season has just arrived. Wishing both you and Thattamma a productive week and a wonderful March doing or enjoying whatever that satisfies you the most, whether aesthetically, physically, intellectually or spiritually!
Yours sincerely,
SoundEagle
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Thank you so much for you enjoyed the poem nicely 🌷🙏😍
She posted that last November and such a lovely post also !!!
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Thanks again, dear Thattamma 💕💕💕
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Most welcome dear 🌷🙏❤️🌷
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🤗🤗🤗
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Thanks a lot, Sound Eagle.
I have just finished reading your post and I have found it really fabulous
As always 🙏💕🙏💕🙏
PS I wish you a happy March too🌸🌸🌸
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Thanks a lot, Sound Eagle.
I have just finished reading your post and I have found it really fabulous
As always 🙏💕🙏💕🙏
PS I wish you a happy March too🌸🌸🌸
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[…] True Love […]
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Thanks a lot for reblogging! 🌹🙏🌹
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[…] True Love […]
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Thank you very much for reblogging!
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Dear Luisa,
I submitted a long comment a few minutes ago, and hope that it has got through. If not, please kindly check whether it has been inadvertently consigned to your WordPress spam folder.
Yours sincerely,
SoundEagle
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Oh, I found you; my spam folder sometimes makes decisions that I don’t share at all😉🙏😉
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