The Poetical Works of George Barlow In Ten [Eleven] Volumes |
I. |
II. |
III. |
IV. |
V. |
VI. |
VII. |
VIII. |
IX. |
I. |
X. |
XI. |
The Poetical Works of George Barlow | ||
259
XXX. “ETERNAL BOYHOOD”
I
Eternal boyhood deepens day by dayAs the heart older grows:
The man who loves a rose
Is ever immortal, though the hair wax grey.
II
The man who loveth thee,O thou most sweet incarnate spirit of Spring,
Becomes a strong and age-defying king
Of heaven and earth and sea.
III
No man who loves thee, sweetheart of my soul,Can e'er be aught but young,
For Spring's self on thy tongue
Lingers for ever, while swift seasons roll.
260
IV
Thee never words may praiseFitly, for thou art far beyond all words,—
Just as the summer singing of the birds
Outstrips our choicest lays.
V
I never shall find words in which to say(That is my one despair!)
How past all sweet praise fair
Thou art to me,—and lovelier day by day.
VI
I never shall find songDivine enough, my beautiful, for thee.
When we stand close beside a white may-tree
Words do the sweet bloom wrong.
VII
Song, once I thought, could never fail to showThe fervent heart within:
Yet, God knows, it seems sin
Almost to sing of thee—I love thee so!
261
VIII
My beautiful, my queen,My sweetest of all sweet things upon earth,—
My sovereign woman with the silver mirth,
The deep glance and serene,—
IX
The harp falls from my hand! God only knows(The God who gave to me
To love and look on thee)
How my whole soul upon thee doth repose.
The Poetical Works of George Barlow | ||