One who will be finished off in merely a single glance, how could he ever sustain a gaze full of longing?
This couplet captures the overwhelming, almost fatal intensity of love's very first contact. The poet wonders: if someone is completely undone and swept away by a single fleeting glance, how could they possibly have the breath or strength left to stand and gaze with lingering longing? It reflects a surrender so sudden and absolute that even the sweet ache of yearning requires more endurance than the lover can afford.
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.