Many Voices: Poems Part 6

MANY'S the time I've found your face Fresh as a bunch of flowers in May, Waiting for me at our own old place At the end of the working day.

Many's the time I've held your hand On the shady seat in the People's Park, And blessed the blaring row of the band And kissed you there in the dark.

Many's the time you promised true, Swore it with kisses, swore it with tears: "I'll marry no one without it's you- If we have to wait for years."

And now it's another chap in the Park That holds your hand like I used to do; And I kiss another girl in the dark, And try to fancy it's you!

WEDDING DAY

THE enchanted hour, The magic bower, Where, crowned with roses, Love love discloses.

"Kiss me, my lover; Doubting is over, Over is waiting; Love lights our mating!"

"But roses wither, Chill winds blow hither, One thing all say, dear, Love lives a day, dear!"

"Heed those old stories?

New glowing glories Blot out those lies, love!

Look in my eyes, love!

"Ah, but the world knows- Naught of the true rose; Back the world slips, love!

Give me your lips, love!

"Even were their lies true, Yet were you wise to Swear, at Love's portal, The G.o.d's immortal."

THE LAST DEFEAT

ACROSS the field of day In sudden blazon lay The pallid bar of gold Borne on the shield of day.

Night had endured so long, And now the Day grew strong With lance of light to hold The Night at bay.

So on my life's dull night The splendour of your light Traversed the dusky shield And shone forth golden bright.

Your colours I have worn Through all the fight forlorn, And these, with life, I yield, To-night, to Night.

MAY DAY

"WILL you go a-maying, a-maying, a-maying, Come and be my Queen of May and pluck the may with me?

The fields are full of daisy buds and new lambs playing, The bird is on the nest, dear, the blossom's on the tree."

"If I go with you, if I go a-maying, To be your Queen and wear my crown this May-day bright, Hand in hand straying, it must be only playing, And playtime ends at sunset, and then good-night.

"For I have heard of maidens who laughed and went a-maying, Went out queens and lost their crowns and came back slaves.

I will be no young man's slave, submitting and obeying, Bearing chains as those did, even to their graves."

"If you come a-maying, a-straying, a-playing, We will pluck the little flowers, enough for you and me; And when the day dies, end our one day's playing, Give a kiss and take a kiss and go home free."

GRETNA GREEN

LAST night when I kissed you, My soul caught alight; And oh! how I missed you The rest of the night- Till Love in derision Smote sleep with his wings, And gave me in vision Impossible things.

A night that was clouded, Long windows asleep; Dark avenues crowded With secrets to keep.

A terrace, a lover, A foot on the stair; The waiting was over, The lady was there.

What a flight, what a night!

The hoofs splashed and pounded.

Dark fainted in light And the first bird-notes sounded.

You slept on my shoulder, Shy night hid your face; But dawn, bolder, colder, Beheld our embrace.

Your lips of vermilion, Your ravishing shape, The flogging postillion, The village agape, The rattle and thunder Of postchaise a-speed . . .

My woman, my wonder, My ultimate need!

We two matched for mating Came, handclasped, at last, Where the blacksmith was waiting To fetter us fast . . .

At the touch of the fetter The dream snapped and fell- And I woke to your letter That bade me farewell.

THE ETERNAL

YOUR dear desired grace, Your hands, your lips of red, The wonder of your perfect face Will fade, like sweet rose-petals shed, When you are dead.

Your beautiful hair Dust in the dust will lie- But not the light I worship there, The gold the sunshine crowns you by- This will not die.

Your beautiful eyes Will be closed up with clay; But all the magic they comprise, The hopes, the dreams, the ecstasies Pa.s.s not away.

All I desire and see Will be a carrion thing; But all that you have been to me Is, and can never cease to be.

O Grave! where is thy victory?

Where, Death, thy sting?

THE POINT OF VIEW: I.

I