Historical & Legendary Ballads & Songs By Walter Thornbury. Illustrated by J. Whistler, F. Walker, John Tenniel, J. D. Watson, W. Small, F. Sandys, G. J. Pinwell, T. Morten, M. J. Lawless, and many others |
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Primrose Time and Snow Time.
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 | Historical & Legendary Ballads & Songs |  |
185
Primrose Time and Snow Time.
I
Even the dead leaves, old and brown,Were warm with the April sun;
And merry and bright, with their yellow light,
The primroses, every one,
Lit up the dappled hazel-stems,
The moss, and the cuckoo-flowers.
How little Cousin Madge and I
Laughed out to see the showers!
186
As we bound each other with daisy-chains—
I was the king and she was the queen;
And thus we spent the hours.
II
Leaves were turning, and Summer was gone.In bunches brown and spiked
The filberts grew, and, a merry crew,
We plundered where'er we liked.
While others carolled, and danced, and sung,
I drew dear Madge aside;
And round her waist my hand I laced
With a chosen lover's pride.
In her gentle eyes I turned to look,
I saw love hiding there.
A kiss she gave and a kiss I took;
Then came a word through the trembling air
And she was my plighted bride.
III
I stood beside her closing grave,But a single hour ago:
The leaves fell dead, and overhead
Bickered the ceaseless snow.
White, white it fell on the new-turned earth,
Pure as her parted soul;
With shuddering gasps of bursting tears,
I heard the death-bell toll.
No more for me the primrose time,—
My heart lies coffined there;
Sorrow's tempest and age's rime
Alone I must suffer and bear,
Until I reach my goal.
| Historical & Legendary Ballads & Songs | |