 | A Tale of Eternity and Other Poems |  |
386
MY NEIGHBOUR.
“Love
thou thy Neighbour,” we are told,
“Even as Thyself.” That creed I hold;
But love her more, a thousand-fold!
“Even as Thyself.” That creed I hold;
But love her more, a thousand-fold!
My lovely Neighbour; oft we meet
In lonely lane, or crowded street;
I know the music of her feet.
In lonely lane, or crowded street;
I know the music of her feet.
She little thinks how, on a day,
She must have missed her usual way,
And walked into my heart for aye:
She must have missed her usual way,
And walked into my heart for aye:
Or how the rustle of her dress
Thrills thro' me like a soft caress,
With trembles of deliciousness.
Thrills thro' me like a soft caress,
With trembles of deliciousness.
387
Wee woman, with her smiling mien,
And soul celestially serene,
She passes me, unconscious Queen!
And soul celestially serene,
She passes me, unconscious Queen!
Her face most innocently good,
Where shyly peeps the sweet red blood:
Her form a nest of Womanhood!
Where shyly peeps the sweet red blood:
Her form a nest of Womanhood!
Like Raleigh—for her dainty tread,
When ways are miry—I could spread
My cloak, but, there's my heart instead.
When ways are miry—I could spread
My cloak, but, there's my heart instead.
Ah, Neighbour, you will never know
Why 'tis my step is quickened so;
Nor what the prayer I murmur low.
Why 'tis my step is quickened so;
Nor what the prayer I murmur low.
I see you 'mid your flowers at morn,
Fresh as the rosebud newly born;
I marvel, can you have a thorn?
Fresh as the rosebud newly born;
I marvel, can you have a thorn?
If so, 'twere sweet to lean one's breast
Against it, and, the more it prest,
Sing like the Bird that sorrow hath blest.
Against it, and, the more it prest,
Sing like the Bird that sorrow hath blest.
388
I hear you sing! And thro' me Spring
Doth musically ripple and ring;
Little you think I'm listening!
Doth musically ripple and ring;
Little you think I'm listening!
You know not, dear, how dear you be;
All dearer for the secrecy:
Nothing, and yet a world to me.
All dearer for the secrecy:
Nothing, and yet a world to me.
So near, too! you could hear me sigh,
Or see my case with half an eye;
But must not. There are reasons why.
Or see my case with half an eye;
But must not. There are reasons why.
| A Tale of Eternity and Other Poems | |