Poem · Mary Elizabeth Coleridge
To Memory
“To Memory” by Mary Elizabeth Coleridge: full text of the poem (12 lines, 78 words). Public domain.
Strange Power, I know not what thou art,
Murderer or mistress of my heart.
I know I'd rather meet the blow
Of my most unrelenting foe
Than live---as now I live---to be
Slain twenty times a day by thee.
Yet, when I would command thee hence,
Thou mockest at the vain pretence,
Murmuring in mine ear a song
Once loved, alas! forgotten long;
And on my brow I feel a kiss
That I would rather die than miss.
Typesetting this poem in a book
| Trim (11 pt) | Characters per line | Longest line |
|---|---|---|
| 5 x 8 in | 55 characters | Fits |
| 5.5 x 8.5 in Digest | 62 characters | Fits |
| 6 x 9 in US Trade | 67 characters | Fits |
| 7 x 10 in Executive | 81 characters | Fits |
Poetry should not wrap mid-line; if it must, indent the turnover. See the poetry collection guide.
More poems by Mary Elizabeth Coleridge
Sources & data
- Text from PoetryDB (public domain).