 | Poems Lyrical and Dramatic |  |
III.
Could I see in the tremulous glitter
Of her glances the venom confined?
Could I bring my charmed spirit to quit her
As she lay with locks loose in the wind,
And head on my bosom reclined,
Her lips full of smiles and repose,
While my hand in her own lay resigned—
A worm in the heart of the rose?
Of her glances the venom confined?
Could I bring my charmed spirit to quit her
As she lay with locks loose in the wind,
And head on my bosom reclined,
Her lips full of smiles and repose,
While my hand in her own lay resigned—
A worm in the heart of the rose?
I had woven a chaplet to fit her
Of lilies and roses combined:
Were they flowers on that day that were knit, or
Steel fetters to goad my mind?
Were my eyes and my soul made blind?
Did I dream she would love to the close?
Death lurked in the fruit's fair rind,
A worm in the heart of the rose.
Of lilies and roses combined:
Were they flowers on that day that were knit, or
Steel fetters to goad my mind?
Were my eyes and my soul made blind?
Did I dream she would love to the close?
Death lurked in the fruit's fair rind,
A worm in the heart of the rose.
76
All things are half sweet and half bitter;
When we laugh the tears linger behind.
Hear the birds how they restlessly twitter
When their mates have proved false or unkind,
Shallow love a fair bosom may bind:
Rich caskets may trifles enclose:
A fool in her heart may be shrined—
A worm in the heart of the rose.
When we laugh the tears linger behind.
Hear the birds how they restlessly twitter
When their mates have proved false or unkind,
Shallow love a fair bosom may bind:
Rich caskets may trifles enclose:
A fool in her heart may be shrined—
A worm in the heart of the rose.
L'Envoy.
In the garland of life is entwinedThe henbane of poisonous woes:
Let the lover beware lest he find
A worm in the heart of the rose.
| Poems Lyrical and Dramatic | |