Scarlet of the poppy, Yellow of the corn, The men were at the garnering, Marjorie, mint, and violets A-spicing marmalet; On one tile was a satyr, On one a nymph at bay, Methinks the birds will scarce be home To wake our wedding day! Théophile Marzials [1850 "WHEN DEATH TO EITHER SHALL COME" WHEN Death to either shall come, I pray it be first to me, Be happy as ever at home, Possess thy heart, my own; And sing to thy child on thy knee, Or read to thyself alone The songs that I made for thee. Robert Bridges [1844 THE RECONCILIATION From "The Princess" As through the land at eve we went, We fell out, my wife and I, And kissed again with tears. Song And blessings on the falling out That all the more endears, When we fall out with those we love For when we came where lies the child We lost in other years, There above the little grave, 1169 Alfred Tennyson [1809-1892] SONG WAIT but a little while The bird will bring A heart in tune for melodies Unto the spring, Till he who's in the cedar there Is moved to trill a song so rare, Wait but a little while The bud will break; The inner rose will open and glow For summer's sake: Fond bees will lodge within her breast Till she herself is plucked and pressed Wait but a little while The maid will grow Gracious with lips and hands to thee, With breast of snow. To-day Love's mute, but time hath sown A soul in her to match thine own, Though yet ungrown. Norman Gale [1862 CONTENT THOUGH Singing but the shy and sweet Songs bounded by the brook and wheat, The only lure my woodland note, Norman Gale [1862 CHE SARA SARA PREACH wisdom unto him who understands! What is the good of beating up the dust On the world's highway, vexed with droughty heat? Oh, I grow fatalist-what must be must, Seeing that thou, beloved, art so sweet! Victor Plarr [1863 "BID ADIEU TO GIRLISH DAYS" BID adieu, adieu, adieu, Bid adieu to girlish days, Thee and woo thy girlish ways— When thou hast heard his name upon Thy girlish bosom unto him, James Joyce [1882 Advice to a Lover 1171 TO F. C. FAST falls the snow, O lady mine, We'll chat and rhyme, and kiss and dine, So stir the fire and pour the wine, 'Tis snow or sun or rain or shine If we're together. Mortimer Collins [1827-1876] SPRING PASSION BLUE sky, green fields, and lazy yellow sun! Now I may kiss her pure impassioned mouth? Winds rippling with the rich delight of spring! The flame and rapture of her starry eyes? Oh, song of birds, and flowers fair to see! When I may hear her discourse melody, ADVICE TO A LOVER Oн, if you love her, Show her the best of you; So will you move her To bear with the rest of you. Coldness and jealousy Cannot but seem to her Signs that a tempest lurks Where was sunbeam to her. Patience and tenderness Still will awake in her Hopes of new sunshine, Though the storm break for her; Love, she will know, for her, Like the blue firmament, Under the tempest lies Gentle and permanent. Nor will she ever Gentleness find the less When the storm overblown Leaveth clear kindliness. Deal with her tenderly, Skylike above her, Smile on her waywardness, Oh, if you love her! S. Charles Jellicoe [18 "YES" THEY stood above the world, In a world apart; And she dropped her happy eyes, And stilled the throbbing pulses Of her happy heart. And the moonlight fell above her, Her secret to discover; And the moonbeams kissed her hair, As though no human lovėr Had laid his kisses there. "Look up, brown eyes," he said, "And answer mine; Lift up those silken fringes That hide a happy light Almost divine." |