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My Lyrical Life

Poems Old and New. By Gerald Massey

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THE MISTLETOE BOUGH.

'Twas on a merry Christmas night,
A many years ago,
I saw my Love, with dancing sight,
As she came over the snow.
The Elvish Holly laughed above;
A sweeter red below!
When first I met with my true Love,
Under the Mistletoe Bough.
Bright-headed as the merry May-Dawn
She floated down the dance;
I thought some Angel must have gone
Our human way by chance:

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I held my hands, and caught my bliss,
Children, I'll show you how!
And Earth touched Heaven in a kiss,
Under the Mistletoe Bough.
Ere leaves were green we built our nest,
The March winds whistled wild;
But in our love we were so blessed,
Old Poverty he smiled.
And Love the heart of Winter warmed,
Love blossomed 'neath the snow;
All fairy-land in blessings swarmed
Under the Mistletoe Bough.
The storms of years have beat our Bark,
That rocks at anchor now;
But She was smiling through the dark,
My Angel at the prow.
And brimming tides of love did bear
Us over the rocks below!
To-night, all safe in harbour here,
Under the Mistletoe Bough.
May you, Boys, win just such a Wife;
Come drink the toast in wine!
And you, Girls, may you light a life
As she has brightened mine.
Dear was the bonny Bride, and yet
I'm prouder of her now
Than on the merry, merry night we met,
Under the Mistletoe Bough.