The Poetical Works of George Barlow In Ten [Eleven] Volumes |
 | I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
 | V. |
| I. |
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. | XI. FOR THEE
|
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXIV. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
| XLIII. |
| XLIV. |
| II. |
| III. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
 | The Poetical Works of George Barlow |  |
31
XI. FOR THEE
It is as if my whole past life were but a shadow:—
The years till thy foot came
Were winter. Spring with thee turned hill and lane and meadow
Into one golden sheet of blossom-flame.
The years till thy foot came
Were winter. Spring with thee turned hill and lane and meadow
Into one golden sheet of blossom-flame.
It is as if the centuries hushed their wings and waited
For thee, my sweet, for thee,—
And all the silver tidal ripples hesitated
And paused to worship, over all the sea!
For thee, my sweet, for thee,—
And all the silver tidal ripples hesitated
And paused to worship, over all the sea!
It is as if till this strange year of dread and wonder
Never one rosebud blew.
It is as if for thee the very march of thunder
Halted, and lightning's red lips silent grew.
Never one rosebud blew.
It is as if for thee the very march of thunder
Halted, and lightning's red lips silent grew.
32
When thou didst come, the blue waves' light-lipped silver laughter
Rang echoing round thy road.
Spring caught up her green gown, and Summer followed after,
And never a stream but far more softly flowed.
Rang echoing round thy road.
Spring caught up her green gown, and Summer followed after,
And never a stream but far more softly flowed.
It is as if the flowers in prehistoric valleys
Had waited for thy reign.
Now thou art gone, the vales of earth and its green alleys
Will never laugh their old light laugh again!
Had waited for thy reign.
Now thou art gone, the vales of earth and its green alleys
Will never laugh their old light laugh again!
The days will come and go,—the flowers will bloom and wither
And summers bloom and fade;
Spring's glistening wings will pass, and once again turn hither;
Darkness will yield to light, and sun to shade;
And summers bloom and fade;
Spring's glistening wings will pass, and once again turn hither;
Darkness will yield to light, and sun to shade;
And I shall live and love, and hear of thee, and see thee
(Yes: I shall love again!)—
But never will my heart for all its journeys flee thee
Or quite escape one haunting pain.
(Yes: I shall love again!)—
But never will my heart for all its journeys flee thee
Or quite escape one haunting pain.
| The Poetical Works of George Barlow | |