Porphyria's Lover

I finished Haroun and the Sea of Stories tonight. I give it 3.5/4 stars. It was a fantastic book and something I would want to share with my own kids one day. It would be a perfect one-chapter-before-bed kind of story to share with little ones who love books. I think it has a bit of a "Big Fish" & "What Dreams May Come" kind of vibe, both of which are wonderful films.

I also read some Robert Browning in class today. One of the poems we read, I really enjoyed so I thought I would share it:

Porphyria's Lover

THE rain set early in to-night,
The sullen wind was soon awake,
It tore the elm-tops down for spite,
And did its worst to vex the lake:
I listen'd with heart fit to break.
When glided in Porphyria; straight
She shut the cold out and the storm,
And kneel'd and made the cheerless grate
Blaze up, and all the cottage warm;
Which done, she rose, and from her form
Withdrew the dripping cloak and shawl,
And laid her soil'd gloves by, untied
Her hat and let the damp hair fall,
And, last, she sat down by my side
And call'd me. When no voice replied,
She put my arm about her waist,
And made her smooth white shoulder bare,
And all her yellow hair displaced,
And, stooping, made my cheek lie there,
And spread, o'er all, her yellow hair,
Murmuring how she loved me—she
Too weak, for all her heart's endeavour,
To set its struggling passion free
From pride, and vainer ties dissever,
And give herself to me for ever.
But passion sometimes would prevail,
Nor could to-night's gay feast restrain
A sudden thought of one so pale
For love of her, and all in vain:
So, she was come through wind and rain.
Be sure I look'd up at her eyes
Happy and proud; at last I knew
Porphyria worshipp'd me; surprise
Made my heart swell, and still it grew
While I debated what to do.
That moment she was mine, mine, fair,
Perfectly pure and good: I found
A thing to do, and all her hair
In one long yellow string I wound
Three times her little throat around,
And strangled her. No pain felt she;
I am quite sure she felt no pain.
As a shut bud that holds a bee,
I warily oped her lids: again
Laugh'd the blue eyes without a stain.
And I untighten'd next the tress
About her neck; her cheek once more
Blush'd bright beneath my burning kiss:
I propp'd her head up as before,
Only, this time my shoulder bore
Her head, which droops upon it still:
The smiling rosy little head,
So glad it has its utmost will,
That all it scorn'd at once is fled,
And I, its love, am gain'd instead!
Porphyria's love: she guess'd not how
Her darling one wish would be heard.
And thus we sit together now,
And all night long we have not stirr'd,
And yet God has not said a word!

Why do I like this poem? Several reasons. First, Browning is a Victorian writer and it was so not pc to talk about how you want to kill someone -- in other words he gives voice to the inner psyche and that hadn't been done before. Second, I kind of giggle about the idea but this really is about a Victorian era bootycall gone awry! Third, I relate it to Self Esteem by Offspring and Last Dance with Mary Jane by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. I'm thinking my next paper will be over this poem in particular and I might even do a comparison against some of these modern song lyrics.