The Blondes' and Brunettes' Club: Aphroditist Poetry

Isabel Trent

Sep 5, 05 - 2:52 AM

Aphroditist Poetry

Could I prevail upon you girls to dust off your libraries and send me your very favourite Aphroditist poems? I am making a little Aphroditist page to add to our family of Aristasian Elektrasites, and while I've been eating up poems in large quantities all my life it is jolly hard to remember what they are called and where they can be found at short notice. Especially as the bulk of my collection continues to languish in storage in the South Seas.

My address is miss_trent at duchesse dot org (yes, another duchesse address; heaps of people have them nowadays). Don't worry whether your favourites are or aren't strictly Aphroditist; I should love to see any verse beloved of the discerning denizens of this elegant Elektra-establishment!

Ellen Dale

Sep 6th, 2005 - 12:37 AM

Re: Aphroditist Poetry

Forgive me, but do you mean love poems or something more risque?

Isabel Trent

Sep 6th, 2005 - 1:55 AM

Re: Aphroditist Poetry

Love poems, yes -- although one doesn't object to risque verse if it is risque by Aristasian standards. Anything that would be considered risque in the Pit is obviously ineligible!

Ellen Dale

Sep 7th, 2005 - 10:28 PM

Re: Aphroditist Poetry

I think it is hard to beat Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnets From the Portugese; for example:

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every dayÕs
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhoodÕs faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,ÑI love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!Ñand if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

*****************************************

Yet love, mere love, is beautiful indeed,
And worthy of acceptation. Fire is bright,
Let temple burn, or flax. An equal light
Leaps in the flame from cedar-plank or weed.
And love is fire; and when I say at need
I love theeÉmark!ÉI love thee!Éin thy sight
I stand transfigured, glorified aright
With conscience of the new rays that proceed
Out of my face toward thine. ThereÕs nothing low
In love, when love the lowest: meanest creatures
Who love God, God accepts while loving so.
And what I feel, across the inferior features
Of what I am, doth flash itself, and show
How that great work of Love enhances NatureÕs.

Felice Nonchalante

Sep 8th, 2005 - 12:44 AM

Re: Aphroditist Poetry

Those are very lovely, Miss Dale, and from one of my own favourite poetesses. However, for Miss Trent's new page to spring on us all in delicious freshness, it would be best to send the poems to her directly.

Author	Comment
Isabel Trent Sep 5, 05 - 2:52 AM	Aphroditist Poetry Could I prevail upon you girls to dust off your libraries and send me your very favourite Aphroditist poems? I am making a little Aphroditist page to add to our family of Aristasian Elektrasites, and while I've been eating up poems in large quantities all my life it is jolly hard to remember what they are called and where they can be found at short notice. Especially as the bulk of my collection continues to languish in storage in the South Seas. My address is miss_trent at duchesse dot org (yes, another duchesse address; heaps of people have them nowadays). Don't worry whether your favourites are or aren't strictly Aphroditist; I should love to see any verse beloved of the discerning denizens of this elegant Elektra-establishment!
Ellen Dale Sep 6th, 2005 - 12:37 AM	Re: Aphroditist Poetry Forgive me, but do you mean love poems or something more risque?
Isabel Trent Sep 6th, 2005 - 1:55 AM	Re: Aphroditist Poetry Love poems, yes -- although one doesn't object to risque verse if it is risque by Aristasian standards. Anything that would be considered risque in the Pit is obviously ineligible!
Ellen Dale Sep 7th, 2005 - 10:28 PM	Re: Aphroditist Poetry I think it is hard to beat Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnets From the Portugese; for example: How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. I love thee to the level of every dayÕs Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight. I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhoodÕs faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints,ÑI love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life!Ñand if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death. ***************************************** Yet love, mere love, is beautiful indeed, And worthy of acceptation. Fire is bright, Let temple burn, or flax. An equal light Leaps in the flame from cedar-plank or weed. And love is fire; and when I say at need I love theeÉmark!ÉI love thee!Éin thy sight I stand transfigured, glorified aright With conscience of the new rays that proceed Out of my face toward thine. ThereÕs nothing low In love, when love the lowest: meanest creatures Who love God, God accepts while loving so. And what I feel, across the inferior features Of what I am, doth flash itself, and show How that great work of Love enhances NatureÕs.
Felice Nonchalante Sep 8th, 2005 - 12:44 AM	Re: Aphroditist Poetry Those are very lovely, Miss Dale, and from one of my own favourite poetesses. However, for Miss Trent's new page to spring on us all in delicious freshness, it would be best to send the poems to her directly.