The Poetical Works of George Barlow In Ten [Eleven] Volumes |
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| II. |
| III. |
 | IV. |
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| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
 | The Poetical Works of George Barlow |  |
299
LVI. THY WOMANHOOD
And dost thou think that I am blind to this—
That half thine heart I cannot see?
That thou shouldst just a little love is bliss:
Yet much is hidden, woe is me!
That half thine heart I cannot see?
That thou shouldst just a little love is bliss:
Yet much is hidden, woe is me!
Thy glorious woman-heart all unrevealed
Waits,—waits in silence soft and deep.
Thy soul as yet is like a form concealed
And wrapped in robes of magic sleep.
Waits,—waits in silence soft and deep.
Thy soul as yet is like a form concealed
And wrapped in robes of magic sleep.
Thy perfect soul is what I long to win:
Thy perfect woman-heart indeed.
Ope thy soul's gates that Love may enter in;
To song the entrance-right concede.
Thy perfect woman-heart indeed.
Ope thy soul's gates that Love may enter in;
To song the entrance-right concede.
300
Give me thy future. Lovely as thou art,
Yet lovelier thou wilt one day be.
I dream of this as Spring's enamoured heart
Dreams of the summer stars and sea.
Yet lovelier thou wilt one day be.
I dream of this as Spring's enamoured heart
Dreams of the summer stars and sea.
As Spring's heart dreams of unarisen flowers
And of soft summer joys unseen
And of love-laughter ringing through deep bowers
As yet but touched by tenderest green,
And of soft summer joys unseen
And of love-laughter ringing through deep bowers
As yet but touched by tenderest green,
So I dream softly, but with high delight
—Delight that fills with stars my gloom—
Of what thou wilt be,—even yet more bright
One day, and full of softer bloom.
—Delight that fills with stars my gloom—
Of what thou wilt be,—even yet more bright
One day, and full of softer bloom.
I know how very little, love, I see
Of the deep silent heart within:
But keep that heart a sacred trust for me;
Give love the chance that heart to win.
Of the deep silent heart within:
But keep that heart a sacred trust for me;
Give love the chance that heart to win.
Wait. Wait till God and Love the moment bring
When soul may leap forth soul to meet.
Pure love can rob time of its utmost sting
And make the weariest hours most sweet.
When soul may leap forth soul to meet.
Pure love can rob time of its utmost sting
And make the weariest hours most sweet.
301
Give me thy soul,—not for this life alone,
But for the years beyond the grave.
When thou to perfect womanhood art grown,
Let heart and glance unite to save.
But for the years beyond the grave.
When thou to perfect womanhood art grown,
Let heart and glance unite to save.
When thou art woman,—when thine eyes awake
From girlish thoughts and springlike dreams,—
Then let the splendour of love's morning break
Around thee with triumphant gleams.
From girlish thoughts and springlike dreams,—
Then let the splendour of love's morning break
Around thee with triumphant gleams.
When the pure spirit in thee is divine
And fair and quite complete and strong,
Place then thy woman's warm soft hand in mine
And be song's soul. My soul is song.
And fair and quite complete and strong,
Place then thy woman's warm soft hand in mine
And be song's soul. My soul is song.
| The Poetical Works of George Barlow | |