Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN, REVISITING WALES; AUGUST 24, 1889, by LEWIS MORRIS (1833-1907)


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN, REVISITING WALES; AUGUST 24, 1889, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Welcome, dear lady, welcome once again
Last Line: Of welcome to our queen, bidding all hearts rejoice.
Subject(s): Victoria, Queen Of England (1819-1901)


WELCOME, dear Lady, welcome once again,
To thine own land -- nor for the last time come.
Small is our Gwalia, but a fair domain,
Who comes to her comes home.
Come now and often, still our warm hearts burn,
Though the swift winters close or dim the eyes
That saw thee last; to thee our spirits turn,
Still to our lips true words of welcome rise.
Dear Lady! welcome, welcome home!
Our Cymric eyes grow bright to see our Sovereign come.

Once long ago, didst thou, a careless child,
With smooth young brow on which the Imperial Crown
Weighed not as yet, amidst our hill-sides wild
Abide, and with thine own
Didst spend thy Springtime's joyous hours and bright,
Safe-guarded by a mother's tender care.
Then all the unfolding world showed clear and fair
To thy unwearied mind and eager sight;
Ah! it is blest indeed to be
In life's young morn with all fair things to see!

And then thou camest to thy Wales once more
In happy wedlock, by the knightly arm
Of thy new Arthur, sheltered safe from harm,
By Menai's sounding shore,
Strong in Love's strength, as one who seemed to bear
A potent talisman to shield from ill.
But what defence averts the stroke of care,
Or blunts the shafts of Heaven's mysterious will!
Grief dwelt with thee long time, but now
The crown of Resignation decks thy brow.

Dear Lady, we are feeble folk, and weak,
But our old tongue and loyal hearts we keep;
We cherish still the love we may not speak --
The old affection deep.
Still is our Wales "a sea of song," and still
From smilling valley, and from soaring hill,
Eryri's snows and fair Clwyd's verdant plain,
Or that strange shrine upon the Western Main,
There comes a universal voice
Of welcome to our Queen, bidding all hearts rejoice.





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