The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay With Illustrations by John Gilbert |
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THE SECRETS OF THE HAWTHORN. |
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 | The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay |  |
29
THE SECRETS OF THE HAWTHORN.
I
No one knows what silent secretsQuiver from thy tender leaves;
No one knows what thoughts between us
Pass in dewy moonlight eves.
Roving memories and fancies,
Travellers upon Thought's deep sea,
Haunt the gay time of our May-time,
O thou snow-white hawthorn tree!
II
Lovely was she, bright as sunlight,Pure and kind, and good and fair;
When she laugh'd, the ringing music
Rippled through the summer air.
“If you love me;—shake the blossoms!”
Thus I said too bold and free;—
Down they came in showers of beauty,
Thou belovéd hawthorn tree!
III
Sitting on the grass, the maidenVow'd the vow to love me well;
Vow'd the vow; and oh! how truly,
No one but myself can tell.
Widely spreads the smiling woodland
Elm and beech are fair to see;
But thy charms they cannot equal,
O thou happy hawthorn tree!
| The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay | |