 | 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition |  |
THE FIRST KISS.
Sweet it is, when men have parted
With a more than earthquake shock
Shattering the breast of rock,
Heavy-eyed and broken-hearted,
After years of yearning vain
Big with penury of pain,
Then once more by chance united,
Long delayed and long invited,
Yet again in joy to meet—
That is beautiful and sweet;
But there is a greater bliss—
The first kiss.
With a more than earthquake shock
Shattering the breast of rock,
Heavy-eyed and broken-hearted,
After years of yearning vain
Big with penury of pain,
Then once more by chance united,
Long delayed and long invited,
Yet again in joy to meet—
That is beautiful and sweet;
But there is a greater bliss—
The first kiss.
Grand it is, to be the pleader
Of some great and glorious cause,
Moulding new and truer laws,
Not as a mere party leader—
Laws that fit a nation's need,
And enshrine immortal seed—
Laws that myriads can cherish,
None would willingly let perish,
Bulwarks of a faith to stand—
That is beautiful and grand;
But more rapturous is this—
The first kiss.
Of some great and glorious cause,
Moulding new and truer laws,
Not as a mere party leader—
Laws that fit a nation's need,
And enshrine immortal seed—
Laws that myriads can cherish,
None would willingly let perish,
Bulwarks of a faith to stand—
That is beautiful and grand;
But more rapturous is this—
The first kiss.
427
Dear it is, before your brothers,
Pioneering thousands on,
Where no traveller hath gone,
There, beyond the bounds of others—
There, though cowards faint or lag,
First to plant the English flag—
After labour long and sorest,
First to cleave the virgin forest,
Opening out a golden year—
That is beautiful and dear;
But discovery may miss
The first kiss.
Pioneering thousands on,
Where no traveller hath gone,
There, beyond the bounds of others—
There, though cowards faint or lag,
First to plant the English flag—
After labour long and sorest,
First to cleave the virgin forest,
Opening out a golden year—
That is beautiful and dear;
But discovery may miss
The first kiss.
Good it is in summer season,
If authority is near,
In the luxury of fear,
With a friend to talk of treason;
But, beyond all old content,
Foremost prize and ravishment,
Past the count of vulgar measures,
More than any common treasures,
That is beautiful and best—
When the Goddess gives the blest,
Though a thousand serpents hiss,
The first kiss.
If authority is near,
In the luxury of fear,
With a friend to talk of treason;
But, beyond all old content,
Foremost prize and ravishment,
Past the count of vulgar measures,
More than any common treasures,
That is beautiful and best—
When the Goddess gives the blest,
Though a thousand serpents hiss,
The first kiss.
| 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition | |