 | The music-lesson of Confucius, And Other Poems |  |
114
MINE OWN.
AND oh, the longing, burning eyes!
And oh, the gleaming hair
Which waves around me, night and day,
O'er chamber, hall, and stair!
And oh, the gleaming hair
Which waves around me, night and day,
O'er chamber, hall, and stair!
And oh, the step, half dreamt, half heard!
And oh, the laughter low!
And memories of merriment
Which faded long ago!
And oh, the laughter low!
And memories of merriment
Which faded long ago!
Oh, art thou Sylph—or truly Self—
Or either at thy choice?
Oh, speak in breeze or beating heart,
But let me hear thy voice.
Or either at thy choice?
Oh, speak in breeze or beating heart,
But let me hear thy voice.
‘Oh, some do call me Laughter, love;
And some do call me Sin:—’
‘And they may call thee what they will
So I thy love may win.
And some do call me Sin:—’
‘And they may call thee what they will
So I thy love may win.
‘And some do call me Wantonness,
And some do call me Wine:—’
‘Oh, they might call thee what they would
If thou wert only mine!’
And some do call me Wine:—’
‘Oh, they might call thee what they would
If thou wert only mine!’
115
‘And some do call me Sorrow, love,
And some do call me Tears,
When sighing for the golden hours
Of love in early years.
And some do call me Tears,
When sighing for the golden hours
Of love in early years.
‘And some do call me Gentle Heart,
And some Forgetfulness:—’
‘And if thou com'st as one or all,
Thou comest but to bless!’
And some Forgetfulness:—’
‘And if thou com'st as one or all,
Thou comest but to bless!’
‘And some do call me Life, sweetheart,
And some do call me Death;
And he to whom the two are one
Has won my heart and faith.’
And some do call me Death;
And he to whom the two are one
Has won my heart and faith.’
She twined her white arms round his neck:—
The tears fell down like rain.
‘And if I live or if I die,
We'll never part again.’
The tears fell down like rain.
‘And if I live or if I die,
We'll never part again.’
| The music-lesson of Confucius, And Other Poems | |