Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, GOING TO COURT, by ALICE CARY


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GOING TO COURT, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The farm-lad quarried from the mow
Last Line: Back to his heart, and broken it.
Subject(s): Courtship


THE farm-lad quarried from the mow
The golden bundles, hastily,
And, giving oxen, colt, and cow
Their separate portions, he was free.

Then, emptying all the sweet delight
Of his young heart into his eyes,
As if he might not go that night,
He lingered, looking at the skies.

The evening's silver plough had gone
Through twilight's bank of yellow haze,
And turned two little stars thereon --
Still artfully he stayed to praise

The hedge-row's bloom -- the trickling run --
The crooked lane, and valley low --
Each pleasant walk, indeed, save one,
And that the way he meant to go!

In truth, for Nature's simple shows
He had no thoughts that night, to spare,
In vain to please his eyes, the rose
Climbed redly out upon the air.

The bean-flower, in her white attire
Displayed in vain her modest charms,
And apple-blossoms, all on fire,
Fell uninvited in his arms.

When Annie raked the summer hay
Last year, a little thorn he drew
Out of her white hand, such a way,
It pierced his heart all through and through.

Poor farmer-lad! could he that night
Have seen how fortune's leaves were writ,
His eyes had emptied all their light
Back to his heart, and broken it.





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