Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MAID AND MAN, by ALICE CARY


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MAID AND MAN, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: All in the gay and golden weather
Last Line: Backward whirled in the whirling mist.
Subject(s): Death


ALL in the gay and golden weather,
Two fair travelers, maid and man,
Sailed in a birchen boat together,
And sailed the way that the river ran:
The sun was low, not set, and the west
Was colored like a robin's breast.

The moon was moving sweetly o'er them,
And her shadow, in the waves afloat,
Moved softly on and on before them
Like a silver swan, that drew their boat;
And they were lovers, and well content,
Sailing the way the river went.

And these two saw in her grassy bower
As they sailed the way the river run,
A little, modest, slim-necked flower
Nodding and nodding up to the sun,
And they made about her a little song
And sung it as they sailed along:

"Pull down the grass about your bosom,
Nor look at the sun in the royal sky,
'T is dangerous, dangerous, little blossom,
You are so low, and he is so high --
'T is dangerous nodding up to him,
He is so bright, and you are so dim!"

Sweetly over, and sadly under,
They turned the tune as they sailed along,
And they did not see the cloud, for a wonder,
Break in the water, the shape of the swan;
Nor yet, for a wonder, see at all
The river narrowing toward the fall.

"Be warned, my beauty -- 't is not the fashion
Of the king to wed with the waiting-maid --
Make not from sleep his fiery passion,
But turn your red cheek into the shade --
The dew is a-tremble to kiss your eyes --
And there is but danger in the skies!"

Close on the precipice rang the ditty,
But they looked behind them, and not before,
And went down singing their doleful pity
About the blossom safe on the shore --
"There is danger, danger! frail one, list!"
Backward whirled in the whirling mist.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net