 | The poetical works of Edmund Clarence Stedman |  |
23
ROSEMARY.
“There 's Rosemary, that 's for Remembrance.”
Years ago, when a summer sun
Warmed the greenwood into life,
I went wandering with one
Soon to be my wife.
Warmed the greenwood into life,
I went wandering with one
Soon to be my wife.
Birds were mating, and Love began
All the copses to infold;
Our two souls together ran
Melting in one mould.
All the copses to infold;
Our two souls together ran
Melting in one mould.
Skies were bluer than ever before:
It was joy to love you then,
And to know I loved you more
Than could other men!
It was joy to love you then,
And to know I loved you more
Than could other men!
24
Winds were fresh and your heart was brave,
Sang to mine a sweet refrain,
And for every pledge I gave
Pledged me back again.
Sang to mine a sweet refrain,
And for every pledge I gave
Pledged me back again.
How it happened I cannot tell,
But there came a cursed hour,
When some hidden shape of hell
Crept within our bower.
But there came a cursed hour,
When some hidden shape of hell
Crept within our bower.
Sudden and sharply either spoke
Bitter words of doubt and scorn;
Pride the golden linklets broke,—
Left us both forlorn.
Bitter words of doubt and scorn;
Pride the golden linklets broke,—
Left us both forlorn.
Seven long years have gone since then,
And I suffered, but, at last,
Rose and joined my fellow-men,
Crushing down the past.
And I suffered, but, at last,
Rose and joined my fellow-men,
Crushing down the past.
Far away over distant hills,
Now I know your life is led;
Have you felt the rust that kills?
Are your lilies dead?
Now I know your life is led;
Have you felt the rust that kills?
Are your lilies dead?
Summer and winter you have dwelt,
Like a statue, cold and white;
None, of all the crowd who knelt,
Read your soul aright.
Like a statue, cold and white;
None, of all the crowd who knelt,
Read your soul aright.
O, I knew the tremulous swell
Of its secret undertone!
That diviner music fell
On my ear alone!
Of its secret undertone!
That diviner music fell
On my ear alone!
25
Ever in dreams we meet with tears:
Lake and mountain—all are past:
With the stifled love of seven long years
Hold each other fast!
Lake and mountain—all are past:
With the stifled love of seven long years
Hold each other fast!
Though the glamoury of the night
Fades with morning far away,
Oftentimes a strange delight
Haunts the after-day.
Fades with morning far away,
Oftentimes a strange delight
Haunts the after-day.
Even now, when the summer sun
Warms the greenwood far within,
Even now my fancies run
On what might have been.
Warms the greenwood far within,
Even now my fancies run
On what might have been.
| The poetical works of Edmund Clarence Stedman | |