 | Poems by James Rhoades |  |
102
THE BALLAD OF LITTLE MAISIE.
“Mother, mother, I'm weary o' bed;
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
The sun shines sweet through the curtain-head:
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
The sun shines sweet through the curtain-head:
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
“Do on my clothes, my own mother dear,
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
My bonnet fine with the gay feather:
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
My bonnet fine with the gay feather:
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
“My velvet shoon bring hither to me:
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
And eke my gown of the cramoisie:
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
And eke my gown of the cramoisie:
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
103
“Come, Sister Janet, to the hawthorn-bush:
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
We will listen and look for the dappled thrush.
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
We will listen and look for the dappled thrush.
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
“We will gather the cowslip and blue-bell,
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
The cuckoo-pint and the periwinkle.
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
The cuckoo-pint and the periwinkle.
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
“With the flowers we'll make a wreath for my head;
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
And Willie and I for play will wed.”
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
And Willie and I for play will wed.”
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
“But Maisie, my darling, Maisie, my dear,
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
Through the open window the thrush sings clear.
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
Through the open window the thrush sings clear.
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
104
“Maisie, my child, my maiden sweet,
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
The grass is o'erlong for your tender feet.”
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
The grass is o'erlong for your tender feet.”
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
“But last year, my mother, you said not so:
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
But last year you were fain to let me go.
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
But last year you were fain to let me go.
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
“'Tis sweet to be out in the summer hours:
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
I should like to lie all day in the flowers.”
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
I should like to lie all day in the flowers.”
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
“All day, all night in the flowers, my child,
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
Through summer sweet, through winter wild!
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
Through summer sweet, through winter wild!
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
105
“Ye may draw the curtain close, Willie,
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
Little Maisie will no more wed with thee.
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
Little Maisie will no more wed with thee.
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
“Ye may make the chamber dark, Janet;
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
And would God for me it were darker yet!”
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
(White apple-blooms blown on the orchard-floor!)
And would God for me it were darker yet!”
(And oh! hereafter and herebefore!)
| Poems by James Rhoades | |