Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem, "If I Were Loved As I Desire to Be" -poem as read by poet Joe Pasquale

"If I Were Loved As I Desire to Be" was a poem written by Alfred Lord Tennyson. TRADITIONAL POETRY NOW' presents this special reading by ©2023 Joe Pasquale.

If I were loved, as I desire to be
Alfred Lord Tennyson

If I were loved, as I desire to be,
What is there in the great sphere of the earth,
And range of evil between death and birth,
That I should fear, —if I were loved by thee?
All the inner, all the outer world of pain
Clear Love would pierce and cleave, if thou wert mine
As I have heard that, somewhere in the main,
Fresh-water springs come up through bitter brine.
'T were joy, not fear, claspt hand-in-hand with thee,
To wait for death--mute--careless of all ills,
Apart upon a mountain, tho' the surge
Of some new deluge from a thousand hills
Flung leagues of roaring foam into the gorge
Below us, as far on as eye could see.


JOSEPH A PASQUALE is an American poet, novelist and storyteller. He studied theater, acting and writing with the New York Acting Ensemble. He is the author of many novels including Dear Sparrow and Shrewsbury Street.

Pasquale divides his time between Palm Springs, LA, Florida, and New York. He has a passion for animals and has recently completed a seven book series. His first poetry book was published by Adelaide Books in the summer of 2020.