The Poetical Works of George Barlow In Ten [Eleven] Volumes |
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UPON EARTH
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| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
 | The Poetical Works of George Barlow |  |
77
UPON EARTH
What wast thou upon earth, O lovely queen
Of all my spirit—oh, was thine earth-life fair?
Yea, wanderedst thou in some soft southern air,
Floating o'er blue Italian tides serene?
Or didst thou tread the early grasses green
Of England; wast thou Iseult or the rare
Splendour of Guinevere; or didst thou wear
Some Eastern garb, magnificent of mien?
Of all my spirit—oh, was thine earth-life fair?
Yea, wanderedst thou in some soft southern air,
Floating o'er blue Italian tides serene?
Or didst thou tread the early grasses green
Of England; wast thou Iseult or the rare
Splendour of Guinevere; or didst thou wear
Some Eastern garb, magnificent of mien?
Oh, where wast thou, sweet lady—what wast thou?
Where in the years aforetime did thy foot
Linger? (yea, sweetest, where, where art thou now?
What hills celestial still defy pursuit?)
Who kissed thee, who caressed thee? Didst thou rest
On some untender irresponsive breast?
Where in the years aforetime did thy foot
Linger? (yea, sweetest, where, where art thou now?
What hills celestial still defy pursuit?)
Who kissed thee, who caressed thee? Didst thou rest
On some untender irresponsive breast?
| The Poetical Works of George Barlow | |