Thank you very much for creating this for me, Wolf. Here's my favorite "Sonnet from the Portuguese:" The first time that the sun rose on thine oath To love me, I looked forward to the moon To slacken all those bonds which seemed too soon And quickly tied to make a lasting troth. Quick-loving hearts, I thought, may quickly loathe; And, looking on myself, I seemed not one For such man's love!--more like an out-of-tune Worn viol, a good singer would be wroth To spoil his song with, and which, snatched in haste, Is laid down at the first ill-sounding note. I did not wrong myself so, but I placed A wrong on thee. For perfect strains may float 'Neath master-hands, from instruments defaced-- And great souls, at one stroke, may do and dote.

a better love poet has never existed (at least in English). If Thou Must Love Me by Elizabeth Barrett Browning If thou must love me, let it be for nought Except for love's sake only. Do not say `I love her for her smile ... her look ... her way Of speaking gently, ... for a trick of thought That falls in well with mine, and certes brought A sense of pleasant ease on such a day', For these things in themselves, Belov�d, may Be changed, or change for thee,--and love, so wrought, May be unwrought so. Neither love me for Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry, A creature might forget to weep, who bore Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby! But love me for love's sake, that evermore Thou may love on, through love's eternity.

Ahh, you are so right, John!

If I were a sentimentalist, I would be wiping a tear from my eye at the lovelness of those lines...as it is, I shall just let it trickle down and dry there where is fell.

Do you cry over poetry, Marcia? I think I am one of the few people in the world who doesn't, which it seems like it would because I love it so much. I cry over the memories associated with certain poems (like having part of "Ode on Melacholy" by John Keats recited to me while he was down on one knee,) but not the poems themselves.

That, I think, is why some move me. Memories stirred up. (No wonder you fell for him...he read poems to you down on one knee???!!! *gasp*) Great music has the power to move me to tears, but I am not one who cries easily...it must be very powerful. Choked-up, yes! Tears, occasionally.

Oh yes--and right in front of the whole class! I have ever word written on my heart: "Or if thy mistress some rich anger shows, Emprison her soft hand, let her rave, And feed deep, deep upon her peerless eyes." He said he'd always wanted to do that but never had, to which I replied (in a high, hysterical voice,) "Have you ever had a mistress before?" Completely without guile, he said, "No."

I am a sap who wells up at beauty which overwhelms me, whether it be music: Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" can do it to me as can the refrain from Sibelius' "Finlandia." The words and music to "O Canada" make me wish I were Canadian (we Americans should have so beautiful a national anthem), and certain lines of poetry, for example this from Yeats' "When You Are Old": How many loved your moments of glad grace, And loved your beauty with love false or true, But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you, And loved the sorrows of your changing face; I still hope to find a "pilgrim soul" to share my life (and hers) in this realm. I consider such beauty to be inspired by God. Amy, how could you not fall for a man who would recite Keats on bended knee to you, whether alone, or in front of a roomful of people...

Heaven help us all if we cannot swell with emotion at anthems and stirring music of all sorts - as well as music. I agree with you about O Canada....I know the words, even. (I also collect National Anthems! Ours is the WORST unless you consider the last verse.) I am having to be content to be misunderstood my the men in my life and forever dwell alone within myself. (Finlandia does it to me, as well as anything Beethoven, Brahams, etc etc etc!)

...that should read..."as well as the written word." sorry. Amy, how did you keep your knees from buckling? And did he evince any evidence of his emotional feelings at the time for all to see, other than the words? (just way too curious...!)

I can't resist saying that if more men were as "sappy" as you say you are, there would be many more emotionally healthy men out there than there are now! Good for you. Mist up anytime...I will furnish the tissues for you *hugs*

Well, lucky for me, I was sitting down when he did it! I tried to look at him when he did it, but I was both embarassed and flattered at the same time, so I dropped my head. He cocked his head so that he could look me in the eye when he did it--I must have been blushing seven shades of red! I don't know if he was evincing any emotional feelings--I was too shocked and delighted to notice!

i'm a bawler too! i cry at kodak commercials and those coffee ads around christmas time. i bawl over cartoons!! if someone read a poem out loud to me and it overwhelmed me, i would cry too, but no one has taken to doing that. i cry over music, just, anything that is real beauty to me. and it's not just crying either, it's emotional. *sob*

I am not usually a misty-eyed person, but just wait till your little kiddies get to graduating and making you proud of them (yes, I know you are proud of them now...)it is overwhelming! I do not get emotional over my own achievements, but David's are another thing. I don't even want to think about when he gets married...!

i don't even want to think about graduation and stuff now. heck, them being in the school grades they are overwhelms me! *gulp*

Oh Wolfie...it all happens so fast...*sniffle* *sob*

*hugs*

*sniff* thank you *hugs*

I don't even have children, but I have a two-year-old brother and he just started day school this year, and it was hard for me, too! I wanted him to be able to stay home with me as he did over the summer!

Wow! Two is so tiny to get out into the cold cruel world. I don't blame you. He is just getting to be a person...I know you will miss him terribly. The house will seem like a tomb while he is not there! Too much silence!

but it will be good for him and you as well. both of you will need a break from each other and thing about the wonderful reunions!

...but he is only two! I did not leave the nest till I was 6 and David when he was 5...! No wonder the kids don't have any idea of what adults are like in a home setting nor role models...they are not home long enough to learn these things!

i have to counter that....my kids have done quite well considering they've had to be in a day care environment since 6 weeks of age. unfortunately, that goes with the territory for me. my mom stayed at home with us until i was able to watch my brother. she started working part time when i turned 12. the only time i went to a day care was when she and dad wanted to go to a function. i remember having a good time too!

Well, I was purely justifying my need to enjoy my son for as long as I could as a full-time Mom and homemaker. What a lovely time that was!!! There is nothing wrong with day care - especially when it is necessary!

Besides, Wolfie, you are an extraordinarily caring and nurturing person...I would consider any child in your care (feathered, furred or human) to be especially fortunate. I pray there are loads more like you out there helping rear our children...!

no, i'm not that good a mom, really, but thanks so much for your faith in me! *hugs and sniff*