Your brow is furrowed with displeasure and your gaze is turned away; coming like this makes one lose their wits, so please just leave.
In this couplet, the lover responds to a beloved who has visited begrudgingly, wearing a frown and keeping their eyes pointedly averted. Far from bringing comfort, such a tense and cold presence only unnerves the lover and scatters their peace of mind. With charming wit and hurt pride, the poet suggests that if a visit brings only contempt, it is far better that the beloved simply departs.
Interpretation note: meanings and explanations may be AI-assisted and should not replace a primary text or scholarly edition. See the editorial policy.
Audio
Free — just your email. You'll come right back here.
No comments yet. Be the first.