The Lover's Resolution by George Wither (read by Tom O'Bedlam)

Resolution is used in the same sense as a New Year's resolution.
Shall I, wasting in despair,
Die because a woman’s fair?
Or my cheeks make pale with care
’Cause another’s rosy are?
Be she fairer than the day
Or the flowery meads in May-
If she be not so to me
What care I how fair she be?
Shall my foolish heart be pined
’Cause I see a woman kind;
Or a well disposèd nature
Joinèd with a lovely feature?
Be she meeker, kinder, than
Turtle-dove or pelican,
If she be not so to me
What care I how kind she be?
Shall a woman’s virtues move
Me to perish for her love?
Or her merits’ value known
Make me quite forget mine own?
Be she with that goodness blest
Which may gain her name of Best;
If she seem not such to me,
What care I how good she be?
’Cause her fortune seems too high,
Shall I play the fool and die?
Those that bear a noble mind
Where they want of riches find,
Think what with them they would do
Who without them dare to woo;
And unless that mind I see,
What care I how great she be?
Great or good, or kind or fair,
I will ne’er the more despair;
If she love me, this believe,
I will die ere she shall grieve;
If she slight me when I woo,
I can scorn and let her go;
For if she be not for me,
What care I for whom she be?

[@lordlightning2339]

Truth is of its own virtue and reward; it grants one beauty beyond the vanity of a beautiful face; being honest and genuine are the labors of a noble spirit- no matter how rich, kind, or pretty someone may appear- a liar can seem eloquent or presentable just the same.

[@SalkisRe]

Sigh, I'm in love with these words. I just want to be held tight while the blood in my heart listens to its lullaby

[@lordlightning2339]

Moral: relationships aren't built on lies, but on trust- if one person considers outward appearances to be a must, then should look elsewhere - not to subject the person in front of them to their meager vices; we all want something in this life, doesn't mean we should have it. I want a better article than the item I currently have ( a laptop, video game, etc.) And yet, that is the premise for materialism- it leaves the heart in a frenzy for desire and not the person; therefore, this is a question I would like to engage: why? Why resort to that which we are not able to have or be ourselves? We implicate another into our unfair caprice? George was examining the same thought process with a tactical mind: if a man or woman cannot appreciate their love interest, why love at all? Love is about caring and not producing results. We are not programmed to love, are we? We are not this preconceived notion of computation- that our thoughts have to be summed up as wired circuitry, nothing more- and to trigger certain emotions- all we need to do is say the right thing at the right time. It doesn't matter if someone isn't the most graceful, lovely, maybe kind in a manner that is understandable - being honest is better than lying.

[@atheist1941]

Wonderful calm reading. No hysterics, just cool clarity. Thank you!

[@danielgnfr]

Such a beautiful poem, and it appeals to me greatly right now. Thanks for another beautiful reading.

[@3rdcoastnyucka]

You have the best youtube channel and I get excited when you post. Cheers, my friend.

[@faisalhasan5969]

My love life said in a few great lines ...

[@whitekiltwhitekilt1611]

If she don’t have Time for Me, what care I for who she b?

[@joaquimdantas63]

Thank you for coming back. We have been missing you dearly. And what fount/type did you use in the text?

[@SpokenVerse]

Joaquim Dantas Thank you for your kind words. I've been missing you too. The typeface is Monotype Corsiva, I use it for stuff from Shakespearian times.

[@lordlightning2339]

this is realistic to me

[@karenhidalgo4384]

Can anyone help me understand this poem

[@DGpawnshop]

where the hell have you been?