How about "Absence, hear thou my protestation"
(?Hoskyns?)? You know, the one that ends
By absence this good means I
gain,
That I can catch her
Where none can watch her,
In some close corner of my brain.
There I embrace and kiss
her,
And so enjoy her, and so miss her.
Totally, the coolest use of "so" EVER. Dude.
May I ask for some ideas even if they are
only marginally Spenserian or
Sidneyan? As Joe Black knows, I'm on the advisory board (as is he) of
a
projected anthology to be published by Broadview Press--the aim is to
give
Norton and Longmans et al. a run for their money. What we are missing
from
the Renaissance part is a small collection (oh say 20) poems by
the
unfamous. Not, in other words, Skelton, Wyatt, Surrey, Sidney (Philip
and
Mary), Shakespeare, Spenser, Donne, Herbert, Wroth, Lanyer, Herrick.
If
you have any suggestions, favorites, requests I'd love to have
them,
off-list or on. From c. 1500 to c. 1630. Not an emergency--just if
you
have time and inclination. Thanks. Anne
Prescott