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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A PASTORAL, by JOHN BOWYER BUCHANAN NICHOLS Poet's Biography First Line: My love and I among the mountains strayed Last Line: "sweet heart, wouldst thou for all the world be old?" Alternate Author Name(s): Nichols, Bowyer | |||
MY love and I among the mountains strayed When heaven and earth in summer heat were still, Aware anon that at our feet were laid Within a sunny hollow of the hill A long-haired shepherd-lover and a maid. They saw nor heard us, who a space above, With hands clasped close as hers were clasped in his, Marked how the gentle golden sunlight strove To play about their leaf-crowned curls, and kiss Their burnished slender limbs, half-bared to his love. But grave or pensive seemed the boy to grow, For while upon the grass unfingered lay The slim twin-pipes, he ever watched with slow Dream-laden looks the ridge that far away Surmounts the sleeping midsummer with snow. These things we saw; moreover we could hear The girl's soft voice of laughter, grown more bold With the utter noonday silence, sweet and clear: "Why dost thou think? By thinking one grows old; Wouldst thou for all the world be old, my dear?" Here my love turned to me, but her eyes told Her thought with smiles before she spake a word; And being quick their meaning to behold I could not choose but echo what we heard: "Sweet heart, wouldst thou for all the world be old?" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LINES BY A PERSON OF QUALITY by JOHN BOWYER BUCHANAN NICHOLS ON THE TOILET TABLE OF QUEEN MARIE-ANTIONETTE by JOHN BOWYER BUCHANAN NICHOLS SATIRES OF CIRCUMSTANCE: 12. AT THE DRAPER'S by THOMAS HARDY THE CHURCH FLOORE by GEORGE HERBERT SONG [WRITTEN IN THE YEAR 1732] by GEORGE LYTTELTON SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: ANNE RUTLEDGE by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE ANGEL THAT MISSED CHRISTMAS by WILLIAM E. BROOKS |
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