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Between Doubting and Daring

Verses by Jane Barlow

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11

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Give Norah Shane, poor soul, who begs her bread,
The penny that she asks,
To bring down showers of blessing on your head
A nimble tongue she tasks;
‘Long may ye live, and happy may ye die,’
Oft and again I have heard her prayer framed so:
She called it after us when he and I
Fared by a week ago ...
Far lances flash, a bugle's shrill command,
In saddle all his troop;
To let him mount, his mare will hardly stand,
Full gallop off they swoop;
The fretting hooves throb free; he'd think so well
Fay never went; they ne'er at fence did ride
In such a glorious run. Down crashed the shell—
No fear! he happy died.
That both should see a whole good wish come true
Was more than Fate could grant.
If Norah's boon thus halved between us two,
One share of joy be scant,
Accept I yet the dole I would fain forego;
Since fair his lot, mine own must needs forgive;
Yea learn alone while days—while hours—creep slow,
How years are long to live.