The Collected Poems of Lord De Tabley [i.e. J. B. L. Warren] |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
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| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
CARPE DIEM |
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 | The Collected Poems of Lord De Tabley |  |
CARPE DIEM
True love of the rosy cheek,
You have played at hide and seek,
Thro' the tender childish years
That knew no dear unrest.
You have played at hide and seek,
Thro' the tender childish years
That knew no dear unrest.
Light of light and love of love
From your eyes as sunbeams move;
Sweet in laughter, sweet in tears,
But your tears are best.
From your eyes as sunbeams move;
Sweet in laughter, sweet in tears,
But your tears are best.
Cold at first and hardly kind,
Fearing what you came to find;
New born fancies, half born fears,
Longings ill-confessed.
Fearing what you came to find;
New born fancies, half born fears,
Longings ill-confessed.
Now the lover's suit is done,
And the golden goal is won:
What tho' weeping ripe, my girl,
Smile thro' rainy eyes.
And the golden goal is won:
What tho' weeping ripe, my girl,
Smile thro' rainy eyes.
Be my goddess, be my prayer:
Be my saint, serene and fair,
Seated in a shrine of pearl
Incensed by my sighs.
Be my saint, serene and fair,
Seated in a shrine of pearl
Incensed by my sighs.
331
Love me: spring goes: every hour
Beats out petals of life's flower.
What, dear heart, if love be shed
Under foot as soon?
Beats out petals of life's flower.
What, dear heart, if love be shed
Under foot as soon?
Shall the rolling month lay mute
Honey word and tender suit?
Shall the discord of the dead
Alter all love's tune?
Honey word and tender suit?
Shall the discord of the dead
Alter all love's tune?
Ah, we know not; but indeed
It may sweeten true Love's need,
Hearing near a phantom tread,
Black in golden noon.
It may sweeten true Love's need,
Hearing near a phantom tread,
Black in golden noon.
| The Collected Poems of Lord De Tabley | |