Though all Betray by Marie Van Vorst
The speaker begs a beloved to give love, a kiss, and trust, promising to guard each devotion faithfully. Love will be sheltered secretly like a shell in the sea; a kiss will be preserved reverently like the Grail in a temple, making the speaker’s lips into altars; and trust will be held like a beacon’s ray, never betrayed until the lighthouse itself has crumbled to dust.
By Marie Van Vorst · First published 1922 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Love Poetry, Romantic Poetry · 133 words
First lines
Dearest, give your love to me, -- / I will keep it well, / Cradle it, as does the sea / Hold the shell -- / Deep, unseen, and secretly.
Dearest, give your kiss to me, -- / I will keep tho' all assail: / As the temple prayerfully / Holds the Grail. / Altars then my lips shall be!
Dearest, give to me your trust, -- / I will not betray. / Hold it, as the beacon must / Hold the ray, / Till the lighthouse stones are dust.
What this Textopian page supports
Though all Betray is listed on Textopian as a poem by Marie Van Vorst, dated 1922 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Marie Van Vorst
- Date: 1922 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Love Poetry, Romantic Poetry, Devotional Poetry, Symbolist Poetry
- Length: 133 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Though all Betray by Marie Van Vorst
- 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
Similar titles
- Loiseau Des Bois by Marie Van Vorst
- Gods Is The Night by Marie Van Vorst
- Saint Ouen by Marie Van Vorst
- Luce Adorabile by Marie Van Vorst
- Teach My Song by Marie Van Vorst
- Amor In Excelsis by Marie Van Vorst
Genres
- Lyric Poetry — A short, musical poem organized into three rhythmic stanzas, emphasizing emotional expression rather than narrative action.
- Love Poetry — The speaker directly addresses a beloved and asks for love, kisses, and trust, presenting devotion and intimacy as its central concerns.
- Romantic Poetry — Its idealized language of faithful affection, sacred kisses, and enduring emotional commitment strongly reflects Romantic sensibilities.
- Devotional Poetry — Religious imagery including the temple, Grail, altars, prayer, and beacon gives the speaker's love a reverent, quasi-sacred character.
Tags
fiction · historical fiction · romance · drama · betrayal · loyalty · love · honor · society · aristocracy · European setting · early twentieth century