Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TRUE LOVE'S DIRGE, by WILLIAM MOTHERWELL


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TRUE LOVE'S DIRGE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Some love is light and fleets away
Last Line: Requiescat. In. Pace.
Alternate Author Name(s): Brown, Isaac
Subject(s): Love - Unrequited


SOME love is light and fleets away,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
Some love is deep and scorns decay,
Ah, well-a-day! in vain.

Of loyal love I sing this lay,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
'Tis of a knight and lady gay,
Ah! well-a-day! bright twain.

He loved her -- heart loved ne'er so well,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
She was a cold and proud damsel,
Ah, well-a-day! and vain.

He loved her -- oh, he loved her long,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
But she for love gave bitter wrong,
Ah, well-a-day! Disdain!

It is not meet for knight like me,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
Though scorned, love's recreant to be,
Ah, well-a-day! Refrain.

That brave knight buckled to his brand,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
And fast he sought a foreign strand,
Ah, well-a-day! in pain.

He wandered wide by land and sea,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
A mirror of bright constancye,
Ah, well-a-day! in vain.

He would not chide, he would not blame,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
But at each shrine he breathed her name,
Ah, well-a-day! Amen!

He would not carpe, he would not sing,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
But broke his heart with love-longing,
Ah, well-a-day! poor brain.

He scorned to weep, he scorned to sigh,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
But like a true knight he could die --
Ah, well-a-day! life's vain.

The banner which that brave knight bore,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
Had scrolled on it "faity Gvermore,"
Ah, well-a-day! again.

That banner led the Christian van,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
Against Seljuck and Turcoman,
Ah, well-a-day! bright train.

The fight was o'er, the day was done,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
But lacking was that loyal one --
Ah, well-a-day! sad pain.

They found him on the battle-field,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
With broken sword and cloven shield,
A well-a-day! in twain.

They found him pillowed on the dead,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
The blood-soaked sod his bridal bed,
Ah, well-a-day! the Slain.

On his pale brow, and paler cheek,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
The white moonshine did fall so meek --
Ah, well-a-day! sad strain.

They lifted up the True and Brave,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
And bore him to his lone cold grave,
Ah, well-a-day! in pain.

They buried him on that far strand,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
His face turned towards his love's own land,
Ah, well-a-day! how vain.

The wearied heart was laid at rest,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
To dream of her it liked best,
Ah, well-a-day! again.

They nothing said, but many a tear,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
Rained down on that knight's lowly bier,
Ah, well-a-day! amain.

They nothing said, but many a sigh,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
Told how they wished like him to die,
Ah, well-a-day! sans stain.

With solemn mass and orison,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain,
They reared o'er him a cross of stone,
Ah, well-a-day! in pain.

And on it graved with daggers bright,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
Were lies a true and gentle Rnight,
Ah, well-a-day! Amen!

requiescat. in. pace.





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