Charlotte Smith

Here you will find the Poem On The Aphorism of poet Charlotte Smith

On The Aphorism

'L'Amitié est l'Amour sans ailes.' 
FRIENDSHIP, as some sage poet sings, 
Is chasten'd Love, depriv'd of wings, 
Without all wish or power to wander; 
Less volatile, but not less tender: 
Yet says the proverbs­'Sly and slow 
'Love creeps, even where he cannot go;' 
To clip his pinions then is vain, 
His old propensities remain; 

And she, who years beyond fifteen, 
Has counted twenty, may have seen 
How rarely unplum'd Love will stay; 
He flies not­but he coolly walks away.