The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti A variorum edition: Edited, with textual notes and introductions, by R. W. Crump |
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The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti | ||
[Can I know it?—Nay.—]
Can I know it?—Nay.—
Shall I know it?—Yea,
When all mists have cleared away
For ever and aye.—
Shall I know it?—Yea,
When all mists have cleared away
For ever and aye.—
Why not then today?—
Who hath said thee nay?
Lift a hopeful heart and pray
In a humble way.—
Who hath said thee nay?
Lift a hopeful heart and pray
In a humble way.—
Other hearts are gay.—
Ask not joy today:
Toil today along thy way
Keeping grudge at bay.—
Ask not joy today:
Toil today along thy way
Keeping grudge at bay.—
On a past May-day
Flowers pranked all the way;
Nightingales sang out their say
On a night of May.—
Flowers pranked all the way;
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On a night of May.—
Dost thou covet May
On an Autumn day?
Foolish memory saith its say
Of sweets past away.—
On an Autumn day?
Foolish memory saith its say
Of sweets past away.—
Gone the bloom of May,
Autumn beareth bay:
Flowerless wreath for head grown grey
Seemly were today.—
Autumn beareth bay:
Flowerless wreath for head grown grey
Seemly were today.—
Dost thou covet bay?
Ask it not today:
Rather for a palm-branch pray;
None will say thee nay.
Ask it not today:
Rather for a palm-branch pray;
None will say thee nay.
The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti | ||