I love not thy perfections. When I hear
Thy beauty blazoned, and the common tongue
Cheapening with vulgar praise a lip, an ear,
A cheek that I have prayed to;—when among
The loud world’s gods my god is noised and sung,
Her wit applauded, even her taste, her dress,
Her each dear hidden marvel lightly flung
At the world’s feet and stripped to nakedness—
Then I despise thy beauty utterly,
Crying, “Be these your gods, O Israel!”
And I remember that on such a day
I found thee with eyes bleared and cheeks all pale,
And lips that trembled to a voiceless cry,
And that thy bosom in my bosom lay.
I am busy working to bring Wilfrid Scawen Blunt's "Depreciating Her Beauty" to life through some unique musical arrangements and will have a full analysis of the poem here for you later.
In the meantime, I invite you to explore the poem's themes, structure, and meaning. You can also check out the gallery for other musical arrangements or learn more about Wilfrid Scawen Blunt's life and contributions to literature.
Check back soon to experience how "Depreciating Her Beauty" transforms when verse meets melody—a unique journey that makes poetry accessible, engaging, and profoundly moving in new ways.