‘The natural world is often used to construct ideas about love’

Compare and contrast the presentation of love in the following poems in the light of this comment.

First Love

I ne'er was struck before that hourWith love so sudden and so sweet,Her face it bloomed like a sweet flowerAnd stole my heart away complete.My face turned pale as deadly pale.My legs refused to walk away,And when she looked, what could I ail?My life and all seemed turned to clay.

And then my blood rushed to my faceAnd took my eyesight quite away,The trees and bushes round the placeSeemed midnight at noonday.I could not see a single thing,Words from my eyes did start --They spoke as chords do from the string,And blood burnt round my heart.

Are flowers the winter's choice?Is love's bed always snow?She seemed to hear my silent voice,Not love's appeals to know.I never saw so sweet a faceAs that I stood before.My heart has left its dwelling-placeAnd can return no more

John Clare

The Mower’s Song

My mind was once the true survey Of all these meadows fresh and gay, And in the greenness of the grass Did see its hopes as in a glass; When Juliana came, and she What I do to the grass, does to my thoughts and me.

But these, while I with sorrow pine, Grew more luxuriant still and fine, That not one blade of grass you spy’d But had a flower on either side; When Juliana came, and she What I do to the grass, does to my thoughts and me.

Unthankful meadows, could you so A fellowship so true forgo? And in your gaudy May-games meet While I lay trodden under feet? When Juliana came, and she What I do to the grass, does to my thoughts and me.

But what you in compassion ought, Shall now by my revenge be wrought; And flow’rs, and grass, and I and all, Will in one common ruin fall. For Juliana comes, and she What I do to the grass, does to my thoughts and me.

And thus, ye meadows, which have been Companions of my thoughts more green, Shall now the heraldry become With which I shall adorn my tomb; For Juliana comes, and she What I do to the grass, does to my thoughts and me.

By Andrew Marvell