Flower Pieces and other poems By William Allingham: With two designs by Dante Gabriel Rossetti |
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TO EÄRINÉ. |
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 | Flower Pieces and other poems |  |
26
TO EÄRINÉ.
‘Eäriné,
Who had her very being, and her name,
With the first knots or buddings of the Spring.’
Ben Jonson.
Who had her very being, and her name,
With the first knots or buddings of the Spring.’
Ben Jonson.
Saint Valentine kindles the crocus,
Saint Valentine wakens the birds;
I would that his power could evoke us
In tender and musical words!
Saint Valentine wakens the birds;
I would that his power could evoke us
In tender and musical words!
I mean, us unconfident lovers,
Whose doubtful or stammering tongue
No help save in rhyming discovers;
Since what can't be said may be sung.
Whose doubtful or stammering tongue
No help save in rhyming discovers;
Since what can't be said may be sung.
So, Fairest and Sweetest, your pardon
(If no better welcome) I pray!
There's spring-time in grove and in garden;
Perchance it may breathe in my lay.
(If no better welcome) I pray!
There's spring-time in grove and in garden;
Perchance it may breathe in my lay.
I think and I dream (did you know it?)
Of somebody's eyes, her soft hair,
The neck bending whitely below it,
The dress that she chances to wear.
Of somebody's eyes, her soft hair,
The neck bending whitely below it,
The dress that she chances to wear.
Each tone of her voice I remember,
Each turn of her head, of her arm;
Methinks, had she faults out of number,
Being hers, they were certain to charm.
Each turn of her head, of her arm;
Methinks, had she faults out of number,
Being hers, they were certain to charm.
From her every distance I measure;
Each mile of a journey, I say—
‘I'm so much the nearer my treasure,’
Or ‘so much the farther away.’
Each mile of a journey, I say—
‘I'm so much the nearer my treasure,’
Or ‘so much the farther away.’
27
And love writes my almanac also;
The good days and bad days occur,
The fasts and the festivals fall so,
By seeing or not seeing her.
The good days and bad days occur,
The fasts and the festivals fall so,
By seeing or not seeing her.
Who know her, they're happy, they only;
Whatever she looks on turns bright;
Wherever she is not, is lonely;
Wherever she is, is delight.
Whatever she looks on turns bright;
Wherever she is not, is lonely;
Wherever she is, is delight.
So friendly her face that I tremble,
On friendship so sweet having ruth:
But why should I longer dissemble?
Or will you not guess at the truth?
On friendship so sweet having ruth:
But why should I longer dissemble?
Or will you not guess at the truth?
And that is—dear Maiden, I love you!
You sweetest and brightest and best!—
Good luck to the roof-tree above you,
The floor where your footstep is press'd!
You sweetest and brightest and best!—
Good luck to the roof-tree above you,
The floor where your footstep is press'd!
May some new deliciousness meet you
On every new day of the Spring;
Each flow'r in its turn bloom to greet you,
Lark, mavis, and nightingale sing!
On every new day of the Spring;
Each flow'r in its turn bloom to greet you,
Lark, mavis, and nightingale sing!
May kind vernal powers in your bosom
Their tenderest influence shed!
May I when the Rose is in blossom
Enweave you a crown, white and red!
Their tenderest influence shed!
May I when the Rose is in blossom
Enweave you a crown, white and red!
| Flower Pieces and other poems | |