Porphyria's Lover By Robert Browning
  • 15 years ago
A one time performance during the 5th Annual Dead Poets Slam at Sarah Lawrence College on Thursday, November 9, 2006 at 8:00 pm in the Reisinger Concert Hall by Gary Ploski.

The rain set early in tonight,
The sullen wind was soon awake,
It tore the elm-tops down for spite,
and did its worst to vex the lake:
I listened with heart fit to break.
When glided in Porphyria; straight
She shut the cold out and the storm,
And kneeled 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 soiled gloves by, untied
Her hat and let the damp hair fall,
And, last, she sat down by my side
And called 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,

Complete poem:
http://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/browning/section1.html