 | My Lyrical Life |  |
WOOED AND WON.
The plough of Time breaks up our Eden-land,
And tramples down its flowery virgin prime.
Yet through the dust of ages living shoots
O' the old immortal seed start in the furrows:
And, where Love looketh on with lustrous eye,
These quickened germs of everlastingness
Flower lusty, as in fabled Paradise!
And tramples down its flowery virgin prime.
Yet through the dust of ages living shoots
O' the old immortal seed start in the furrows:
And, where Love looketh on with lustrous eye,
These quickened germs of everlastingness
Flower lusty, as in fabled Paradise!
And blessings on the starry chance of love!—
And blessings on the morn of merry May!
That led my footsteps to your leafy bower.
Thus hangs the picture in my mind, sweet wife!
Clear as a Millais in its tint and tone.
Nature drew near me with her glorious shows,
And smiled to hear her young things all at play.
The birds were singing on the blossoming sprays,
With Love's sweet mystery stirring at their hearts,
Like first spring-motions in the veins o' the flowers.
A light of green laughed up the shining hills,
That rounded through the mellowing, gloating air,
As their big hearts heaved to some heart beyond,
Or strove with inner yearnings for the crown
Of purple rondure hung far-off in heaven!
The Flowers were forth in all their conquering beauty
And, winking in their Mother Earth's old face,
Said all her children should have happy hearts.
And blessings on the morn of merry May!
That led my footsteps to your leafy bower.
Thus hangs the picture in my mind, sweet wife!
Clear as a Millais in its tint and tone.
Nature drew near me with her glorious shows,
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The birds were singing on the blossoming sprays,
With Love's sweet mystery stirring at their hearts,
Like first spring-motions in the veins o' the flowers.
A light of green laughed up the shining hills,
That rounded through the mellowing, gloating air,
As their big hearts heaved to some heart beyond,
Or strove with inner yearnings for the crown
Of purple rondure hung far-off in heaven!
The Flowers were forth in all their conquering beauty
And, winking in their Mother Earth's old face,
Said all her children should have happy hearts.
Deeper and deeper in the wood's green gloom
I nestled for the fever at life's core:
And thirstily my heart was drinking in
Rich overflowings of some Cushat's love;
When lo! the air instinct with glory grew,
As if the world, while on her starry journey,
Found sudden harbour in the clime of heaven.
Upon a primrose bank you sat,—a sight
To couch the old blind sorrow of my soul!
A sweet, new blossom of Humanity,
Fresh fallen from God's own home to flower on earth.
A golden burst of sunbeams glinted through
The verdurous roof's lush-leavy greenery,
And on you dropped its crown of wavering light.
Your eyes—half shut, while through their silken eaves
Trembled the secret sweetness hid at heart—
Oped sudden at full, and wide with wonderment!
I nestled for the fever at life's core:
And thirstily my heart was drinking in
Rich overflowings of some Cushat's love;
When lo! the air instinct with glory grew,
As if the world, while on her starry journey,
Found sudden harbour in the clime of heaven.
Upon a primrose bank you sat,—a sight
To couch the old blind sorrow of my soul!
A sweet, new blossom of Humanity,
Fresh fallen from God's own home to flower on earth.
A golden burst of sunbeams glinted through
The verdurous roof's lush-leavy greenery,
And on you dropped its crown of wavering light.
Your eyes—half shut, while through their silken eaves
Trembled the secret sweetness hid at heart—
Oped sudden at full, and wide with wonderment!
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The sweetest eyes that ever drank sun for soul:
As subtly tender as a summer heaven,
Brimmed with the beauty of a starry night!
Your face, so dewy fresh and wondrous fair,
Kindled as Love transfiguringly rose
Like heavenward martyr through a birth of fire!
The fleetest swallow-dip of a tender smile
Ran round your mouth in thrillings; while your cheek
Dimpled, as from the arch God's finger print;
Out flew his signal, fluttering in a flush!
And when your voice broke up the air for music,
It smote upon my startled heart as smites
The new-born babe's first cry a mother's ear,
Yet strangely touched some mystic memory,
And dimly seemed an old pre-natal sound.
As subtly tender as a summer heaven,
Brimmed with the beauty of a starry night!
Your face, so dewy fresh and wondrous fair,
Kindled as Love transfiguringly rose
Like heavenward martyr through a birth of fire!
The fleetest swallow-dip of a tender smile
Ran round your mouth in thrillings; while your cheek
Dimpled, as from the arch God's finger print;
Out flew his signal, fluttering in a flush!
And when your voice broke up the air for music,
It smote upon my startled heart as smites
The new-born babe's first cry a mother's ear,
Yet strangely touched some mystic memory,
And dimly seemed an old pre-natal sound.
That day, with an immortalizing kiss,
You crowned me monarch of your rich heart-world,
Which heaved a boundless sea of love, whose tides
Ran radiant pulsings through your rosy limbs.
How the love-lights did float up in your eyes,
Star after star from violet depths of night!
Dear eyes! all craving with Love's ache and hunger!
And all the spirit stood in your face athirst!
And from the rose-cup of your murmuring mouth
Sweetness o'erflowed, as from a fragrant fount.
O kiss of life! that oped our Eden-world!
The very earth heaved bosom-like, and heaven
Clung round and clasped us as in glowing arms,
To crush the wine of all your ripened beauty,
Which were a fitting sacrament for death—
Into a richer cup of life for me.
You crowned me monarch of your rich heart-world,
Which heaved a boundless sea of love, whose tides
Ran radiant pulsings through your rosy limbs.
How the love-lights did float up in your eyes,
Star after star from violet depths of night!
Dear eyes! all craving with Love's ache and hunger!
And all the spirit stood in your face athirst!
And from the rose-cup of your murmuring mouth
Sweetness o'erflowed, as from a fragrant fount.
O kiss of life! that oped our Eden-world!
The very earth heaved bosom-like, and heaven
Clung round and clasped us as in glowing arms,
To crush the wine of all your ripened beauty,
Which were a fitting sacrament for death—
Into a richer cup of life for me.
| My Lyrical Life | |