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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
WILL O' THE WISPS, by MADISON JULIUS CAWEIN Poet's Biography First Line: Beyond the barley meads and hay Last Line: All heartbreak, of a maid and youth. | |||
BEYOND the barley meads and hay, What was the light that beckoned there? That made her sweet lips smile and say-- 'Oh, busk me in a gown of May, And knot red poppies in my hair.' Over the meadow and the wood What was the voice that filled her ears? That sent into pale cheeks the blood, Until each seemed a wild-brier bud Mown down by mowing harvesters?… Beyond the orchard, down the hill, The water flows, the water whirls; And there they found her past all ill, A plaintive face but smiling still, The cresses caught among her curls. At twilight in the willow glen What sound is that the silence hears, When all the dusk is hushed again And homeward from the fields strong men And women go, the harvesters? One seeks the place where she is laid, Where violets bloom from year to year-- 'O sunny head! O bird-like maid! The orchard blossoms fall and fade And I am lonely, lonely here.' Two stars burn bright above the vale; They seem to him the eyes of Ruth: The low moon rises very pale As if she, too, had heard the tale, All heartbreak, of a maid and youth. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A COIGN OF THE FOREST by MADISON JULIUS CAWEIN A DREAM SHAPE by MADISON JULIUS CAWEIN A FALLEN BEECH by MADISON JULIUS CAWEIN A FLOWER OF THE FIELDS by MADISON JULIUS CAWEIN A NIGHT IN JUNE by MADISON JULIUS CAWEIN A SLEET-STORM IN MAY by MADISON JULIUS CAWEIN A TWILIGHT MOTH by MADISON JULIUS CAWEIN ADVENTURERS by MADISON JULIUS CAWEIN AFTER RAIN by MADISON JULIUS CAWEIN ALONG THE OHIO by MADISON JULIUS CAWEIN |
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