 | The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes |  |
THE LOVER'S RETURN
O, tell me, my daughter, why is it, that now
There's a tear in thine eye, and a cloud on thy brow?
Thy footsteps no longer are light in the vale,
And the cheek, once so rosy, is haggard and pale.
There's a tear in thine eye, and a cloud on thy brow?
Thy footsteps no longer are light in the vale,
And the cheek, once so rosy, is haggard and pale.
“I will bring thee, my daughter, a garland so fair,
To entwine in the locks of thy dark waving hair.”
“Its freshness will fade, and its bloom will decay,
Then weave me no wreaths that will wither away.”
To entwine in the locks of thy dark waving hair.”
“Its freshness will fade, and its bloom will decay,
Then weave me no wreaths that will wither away.”
“I will bring thee a gem, that shall sparkle as bright
As the planet that flames on the girdle of night.”
“I ask not thy jewels, their splendor is vain,
They will soothe not my slumbers, will ease not my pain.”
As the planet that flames on the girdle of night.”
“I ask not thy jewels, their splendor is vain,
They will soothe not my slumbers, will ease not my pain.”
“Oh weep not, my daughter, while others are gay,
It is not for thee to be grieving to day;
Let sorrow no longer o'ershadow thy charms,
For thy long absent lover has come to thine arms.”
It is not for thee to be grieving to day;
Let sorrow no longer o'ershadow thy charms,
For thy long absent lover has come to thine arms.”
The gloom passed away from the brow of his child;
Full deeply she crimsoned, but sweetly she smiled;
And soon by her lover, the maiden did stand,
With a wreath in her tresses, a gem on her hand.
Full deeply she crimsoned, but sweetly she smiled;
And soon by her lover, the maiden did stand,
With a wreath in her tresses, a gem on her hand.
| The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes | |