Poem fractal

Side by side

Random

0.021 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.

An Ode to Love

by Aphra Behn

0.1061 − 0.3120i

Drawing the boundary…

Lingering Lazy Johnny

by Isobel Pagan

0.0971 − 0.3315i

Drawing the boundary…

The poems

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

An Ode to Love

by Aphra Behn

Dull Love no more thy senseless arrows prize,
Damn thy gay quiver, break thy bow;
'Tis only young Lysanders eyes,
That all the arts of wounding know.

A pox of foolish politics in love,
A wise delay in war the foe may harm:
By lazy siege while you to conquest move;
His fiercer beauties vanquish by a storm.

Some wounded god, to be revenged on thee,
The charming youth formed in a lucky hour,
Dressed him in all that fond divinity,
That has out-rivalled thee, a god, in power.

Or else while thou supinely laid 
Basking beneath some myrtle shade,
In careless sleep, or tired with play,
When all thy shafts did scattered lie;
Th'unguarded spoils he bore away,
And armed himself with the artillery.

The sweetness from thy eyes he took,
The charming dimples from thy mouth,
That wonderous softness when you spoke;
And all thy everlasting youth.

Thy bow, thy quiver, and thy darts:
Even of thy painted wing has rifled thee,
To bear him from his conquered broken hearts,
To the next fair and yielding she.

Lingering Lazy Johnny

by Isobel Pagan

Where my swain so blythe and clever,
Why does he leave me all in sorrow,
Three long days has gone forever,
Since he swore he would call to-morrow.
O had he lov'd but half as I do,
He would come with his looks so bonny,
Love has flying wings I well know,
But none for the lingering lazy Johnny.

What can he now be a-doing,
Is he with some lassie staying,
He had better have been wooing,
As with others fondly straying.
Tell me truly where he's roving,
That I may no longer sorrow,
If he's wearied grown of loving,
He may tell me so the morrow.

Hath some favourite rival hid him,
She may be the happy creature,
I'll not ease myself to chide him,
Nor dispute with her for feature.
I neither can, nor will not tarry,
Nor will I sink myself in sorrow,
I may lose the time to marry,
If Johnny waits beyond the morrow.

Gentle shepherd, don't deceive me,
If you love me stay no longer,
And if you wont, another may have me,
Love may cool, 'twill ne'er grow stronger.
Lasses when your lads forsake you,
Sink not in despairing sorrow,
Blest another lad may make you,
Wait for none beyond to-morrow.

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