I only discovered this poem recently, during a drive to my in-laws. It was featured in The Nation’s Most Treasured Verse: Love Poems, an anthology by BBC Radio 4. A must-have for every poetry addict. Let this beautiful poem convince you to buy, order or steal it right now!
Stay near to me and I’ll stay near to you –
As near as you are dear to me will do,
Near as the rainbow to the rain,
The west wind to the windowpane,
As fire to the hearth, as dawn to dew.
Stay true to me and I’ll stay true to you –
As true as you are new to me will do
New as the rainbow in the spray,
Utterly new in every way,
New in the way that what you say is true.
Stay near to me, stay true to me. I’ll stay
As near, as true to you as heart could pray.
Heart never hoped that one might be
Half of the things you are to me –
The dawn, the fire, the rainbow and the day.
James Fenton
Alix in Wonderland 