A face
Robert Browning’s poem “A Face” was written in 1852 for Emily Patmore, in response to “The Angel in the House”, a poem by her husband, Coventry Patmore. It was later published in Browning’s 1864 collection of poetry “Dramatis Personæ”.
Robert Browning was born on 7 May 1812 in London, England, and he died on 12 December 1889 in Venice, Kingdom of Italy, at the age of 77.A poet and playwright, Browning wrote dramatic monologues that put him in high regard among the Victorian poets. He was noted for irony, characterization, dark humour, social commentary, historical settings, and challenging vocabulary and syntax.
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If one could have that little head of hers Painted upon a background of pale gold, Such as the Tuscan’s early art prefers! No shade encroaching on the matchless mould Of those two lips, which should be opening soft In the pure profile; not as when she laughs, For that spoils all: but rather as if aloft Yon hyacinth, she loves so, leaned its staff’s Burthen of honey-coloured buds to kiss And capture ’twixt the lips apart for this. Then her lithe neck, three fingers might surround, How it should waver on the pale gold ground, Up to the fruit-shaped, perfect chin it lifts! I know, Correggio loves to mass, in rifts Of heaven, his angel faces, orb on orb Breaking its outline, burning shades absorb: But these are only massed there, I should think, Waiting to see some wonder momently Grow out, stand full, fade slow against the sky (That’s the pale ground you’d see this sweet face by), All heaven, meanwhile, condensed into one eye Which fears to lose the wonder, should it wink.