THE LOVER THINKS OF HIS LADY IN THE NORTH Now many are the stately ships that northward steam away, And gray sails northward blow black hulls, and many more are they; And myriads of viking gulls flap to the northern seas: But Oh my thoughts that go to you are more than all of these! The winds blow to the northward like a million eager wings, The driven sea a million white-capped waves to northward flings: I send you thoughts more many than the waves that fleck the sea, More eager than tempestuous winds, O Love long leagues from me! O Love, long leagues from me, I would I trod the drenched deck Of some ship speeding to the North and staunch against all wreck, I would I were a sea-gull strong of wing and void of fear: O if I were the sea, upon your northern land I'd beat Until my waves flowed over all, and kissed your wandering feet; And if I were the winds, I'd waft you perfumes from the South, And give my pleadings to your ears, my kisses to your mouth. Though many ships are sailing, never one will carry me, Ah, so my love and longing must be known, Dear Heart, to you! Shaemas O Sheel [18 Ad Domnulam Suam CHANSON DE ROSEMONDE THE dawn is lonely for the sun, And chill and drear; The one lone star is pale and wan As one in fear. But when day strides across the hills, Oh, come, my King! The hounds of joy To chase the doe of heart's desire Across the heights of morn. Oh, come, my Sun, and let me know The rapture of the day! Oh, come, my love! Oh, come, my love! Thou art so long away! 977 Richard Hovey [1864-1900] AD DOMNULAM SUAM LITTLE lady of my heart! Just a little longer, Love me: we will pass and part, Ere this love grow stronger. I have loved thee, Child! too well, To do aught but leave thee: Nay! my lips should never tell Little lady of my heart! Little lady of my heart! Be a child; then we will part, Ere this love grow stronger. Ernest Dowson [1867-1900] MARIAN DRURY MARIAN DRURY, Marian Drury, How are the marshes full of the sea! Acadie dreams of your coming home All year through, and her heart gets free,— Free on the trail of the wind to travel, Marian Drury, Marian Drury, How are the marshes full of the surge! April over the Norland now Walks in the quiet from verge to verge. Burying, brimming, the building billows Marian Drury, Marian Drury, How are the marshes full of the sun! All spring through they falter and follow, Marian Drury, Marian Drury, How are the marshes full of the rain! April over the Norland now Bugles for rapture, and rouses pain,— Love's Rosary Halts before the forsaken dwelling, Where in the twilight, too spent to roam, Love, whom the fingers of death are quelling, Cries you a cheer from the Norland home. Marian Drury, Marian Drury, How are the marshes filled with you! Far in the uplands calling to win you, Tease the brown dusk on the marshes wide; Bliss Carman [1861 LOVE'S ROSARY ALL day I tell my rosary For now my love's away: To-morrow he shall come to me A rosary of twenty hours, And then a rose of May; A rosary of fettered flowers, All day I tell my rosary, My rosary of hours: And here's a flower of memory, And here's a hope of flowers, And here's an hour that yearns with pain An hour of loss, an hour of gain, All day I tell my rosary, Because my love's away; And never a whisper comes to me, And never a word to say; 979 But, if it's parting more endears, Or my heart will break in the darkness All day I tell my rosary, My rosary of hours, Until an hour shall bring to me The hope of all the flowers I tell my rosary of hours, For O, my love's away; And a dream may bring him back to me About the break of day. Alfred Noyes [1880 |