Alas! that men must see
Love, before Death!
Else they content might be
With their short breath;
Aye, glad, when the pale sun
Showed restless Day was done,
And endless Rest begun.
Glad, when with strong, cool hand
Death clasped their own,
And with a strange command
Hushed every moan;
Glad...
Deep in a Rose’s glowing heart
I dropped a single kiss,
And then I bade it quick depart,
And tell my Lady this:
“The love thy Lover tried to send
O’erflows my fragrant bowl,
But my soft leaves would break and bend,
Should he send half the whole!”
O ruddy Lover—
O brave red Clover!
Didst think to win her
Thou dost adore?
She will not love thee,
She looks above thee,
The Daisy’s gold doth move her more.
If gold can win her,
Then Love’s not in her;
So leave the Sinner,
And sigh no more!
How long I ’ve loved thee, and how well—
I dare not tell!
Because, if thou shouldst once divine
This love of mine,
Or did but once my tongue confess
My heart’s distress,
Far, far too plainly thou wouldst see
My slavery,
And, guessing what Love’s wit should hide,
Rest satisfied!
So, though I...
For E. W. W.
ONE pale November day
Flying Summer paused,
They say:
And growing bolder,
O’er rosy shoulder
Threw her lover such a glance
That Autumn’s heart began to dance.
(O happy lover!)
A leafless peach-tree bold
Thought for him she smiled,
I ’m told;
And...
Alas! that men must see
Love, before Death!
Else they content might be
With their short breath;
Aye, glad, when the pale sun
Showed restless day was done,
And endless Rest begun.
Glad, when with strong, cool hand
Death clasped their own,
And with a strange command
Hushed every moan;
Glad...
