University of Virginia Library


218

THE MEADOW-SWEET SOUL

SONG

Thou art the meadow-sweet, love,
That bloomed anigh the rill
That flowed with ripples fleet, love,
Through the green cloven hill;
But fairer than the flower,
And fragrant not one hour
Alone, but through the ages vast and chill.
Thou art the white white rose, love,
That blooms in summer's nest:
Just as its beauty glows, love,
So gleams thy rose-white breast;
But sweeter than the rose,
And whiter than all snows,
A flower than flowers more fair, than dreams more blest.

219

Thy soul is meadow-sweet, love,
Thine eyes are starry rays;
The grasses kiss thy feet, love,
The honeysuckle sprays
A honeysuckle sister
Losing, have sobbed and missed her,
Till on thy lips they've kissed her,
There found more fragrant after many days.