Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE BALLADE OF LOVELACE, by GEORGE AUGUSTUS MOORE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BALLADE OF LOVELACE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: My days of singing and loving are over
Last Line: My love was stronger and fiercer than theirs.
Subject(s): Aging; Love


My days of singing and loving are over
And stark I lie in my narrow bed,
I care not at all if roses cover
Or if above me the snow is spread;
I am weary of dreaming of my sweet dead --
Vera and Lily and Annie and May,
And my soul is set on the present fray,
Its piercing kisses and subtle stares:
So gallants are conquered, ah wellaway,
My love was stronger and fiercer than theirs.

O happy moths that now flit and hover
From the blossom of white to blossom of red,
Take heed, for I was a lordly lover
Till the little day of my life had sped,
As straight as a pine tree, a golden head,
And eyes as blue as an austral bay.
Ladies when loosing your satin array,
Reflect, in my years had you lived my prayers
Might have won you from weakly lovers away.
My love was stronger and fiercer than theirs.

Through the song of the thrush and the pipe of the plover
Sweet voices come down through the binding lead;
O queens that every age must discover
For men, that Man's destiny may be fed;
Oh, sister queens to the queen I wed
For the space of a year, a month, a day,
No thirst but mine could your thirst allay;
And oh, for an hour of life, my dears,
To kiss you, to laugh at your lovers' dismay --
My love was stronger and fiercer than theirs.

Envoi

Prince was I ever of festival gay,
And time never silvered my locks with grey;
The love of your lovers is as hope that despairs,
So think of me sometimes dear ladies I pray,
My love was stronger and fiercer than theirs.





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