Mariana by Christina Georgina Rossetti
A speaker laments loving a man who does not return that love and longs to know the sweetness of mutual affection. Calling love without measure sweet, the speaker asks whether he will ever love and sigh in return.
By Christina Georgina Rossetti · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Love Poetry · 177 words
First lines
Not for me marring or making, / Not for me giving or taking; / I love my Love and he loves not me, / I love my Love and my heart is breaking.
Sweet is Spring in its lovely showing, / Sweet the violet veiled in blowing, / Sweet it is to love and be loved; / Ah, sweet knowledge beyond my knowing!
Who sighs for love sighs but for pleasure, / Who wastes for love hoards up a treasure; / Sweet to be loved and take no count, / Sweet it is to love without measure.
Sweet my Love whom I loved to try for, / Sweet my Love whom I love and sigh for, / Will you once love me and sigh for me, / You my Love whom I love and die for?
What this Textopian page supports
Mariana is listed on Textopian as a poem by Christina Georgina Rossetti, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Christina Georgina Rossetti
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Love Poetry
- Length: 177 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Mariana by Christina Georgina Rossetti
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Genres
- Lyric Poetry — Four rhymed stanzas express a speaker's heartbreak and longing through repeated declarations and a closing appeal.
- Love Poetry — The speaker contrasts unreturned devotion with the sweetness of mutual love and asks the beloved for affection.
Tags
unrequited love · longing · heartbreak · devotion