Poem fractal

Side by side

Random

0.026 apart. A smaller distance means the lines are built more alike.

This number is read from the build of the lines. The bright edge is that number, carried outward until the pattern repeats.

Healing

by Elizabeth Prentiss

0.3986 − 0.2795i

Drawing the boundary…

Loves Horoscope

by Richard Crashaw

0.4169 − 0.2604i

Drawing the boundary…

The poems

Each poem scrolls on its own, so the two texts stay beside each other.

Healing

by Elizabeth Prentiss

Low in the dust of self-abasement lying,
O'er a poor, wasted life my heart is sighing,
Lord Jesus, heal my soul!

I have sought riches, glory, comfort, pleasure;
In Thee I saw no beauty, sought no treasure;
Lord Jesus, heal my soul!

On husks the swine do eat I have been feeding,
I have resisted all Thy tender pleading;
Lord Jesus, heal my soul!

How sorrowful, how spent I am, how weary,
Oh in this desert place so dark and dreary,
Lord Jesus, heal my soul!

Loves Horoscope

by Richard Crashaw

Love, brave vertues younger Brother,
Erst hath made my Heart a Mother,
Shee consults the conscious Spheares,
To calculate her young sons yeares.
Shee askes if sad, or saving powers,
Gave Omen to his infant howers,
Shee asks each starre that then stood by,
If poore Love shall live or dye.

Ah my Heart, is that the way?
Are these the Beames that rule thy Day?
Thou know'st a Face in whose each looke,
Beauty layes ope loves Fortune-booke,
On whose faire revolutions wait
The obsequious motions of Loves fate.
Ah my Heart, her eyes and shee,
Have taught thee new Astrology.
How e're Loves native houres were set,
What ever starry Synod met,
'Tis in the mercy of her eye,
If poore Love shall live or dye.

If those sharpe Rayes putting on
Points of Death bid Love be gone
(Though the Heavens in counsell sate,
To crowne an uncontrouled Fate,
Though their best Aspects, twin'd upon
The kindest Constellation,
Cast amorous glances on his Birth,
And whisper'd the confederate Earth
To pave his pathes with all the good
That warmes the Bed of youth and blood)
Love ha's no plea against her eye
Beauty frownes, and Love must dye.

But if her milder influence move;
And guild the hopes of humble Love:
(Though heavens inauspicious eye
Lay blacke on loves Nativitye;
Though every Diamond in Joves crowne
Fixt his forehead to a frowne,)
Her Eye a strong appeale can give,
Beauty smiles and love shall live.

O if Love shall live, o where
But in her Eye, or in her Eare,
In her Brest, or in her Breath,
Shall I hide poore Love from Death?
For in the life ought else can give,
Love shall dye although he live.

Or if Love shall dye, o where
But in her Eye, or in her Eare,
In her Breath, or in her Breast,
Shall I Build his funerall Nest?
While Love shall thus entombed lye,
Love shall live, although he dye.

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