Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LORD THOMAS AND FAIR MARGARET, by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LORD THOMAS AND FAIR MARGARET, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Fair margaret sat in her bower
Last Line: And were joined in the grave.
Alternate Author Name(s): Alleyne, Ellen; Rossetti, Christina
Subject(s): Ghosts; Love; Murder; Supernatural


1

Fair Marg'ret sat in her bower,
Unbraiding of her hair,
When entered in Lord Thomas' ghost,
And gave her greeting fair.

2

"Oh how pale thou art, my love," she said,
"Oh how pale thou art to see!
Once thine eye was bright, and thy cheek was red;
Why comest thou so to me?"

3

"Oh fair Marg'ret, oh sweet Marg'ret,
I murdered have been --
They have ta'en my body for love of thee,
And cast it in a stream.

4

"Oh fair Marg'ret, oh sweet Marg'ret,
We aye maun parted be,
If thou wilt not bind up thy yellow hair,
And quickly follow me."

5

Up and ris fair Marg'ret,
And quickly followed him;
As the moon was the colour of his face,
And the colour of his limb.

6

The ghost he fled, the ghost he sped,
The ghost he ran and glided,
And still fair Margaret pursued,
Though never to be brided.

7

The ghost he sped, the ghost he fled,
Ploughed land and hillocks over,
And still fair Margaret pursued.
After her flying lover.

8

Away, away "without stop or stay,"
Till they came to waters running,
"I canna stay, I maun away,
For fast the day is coming.

9

"Oh fair Marg'ret, oh sweet Marg'ret,
We now maun parted be,
If in the last trail thou shalt go through
Thy heart should fail in thee."

10

On glided the ghost, while the starry host
Glittered down on the sleeping stream;
O'er the waves glided he impalpably,
Then vanished like a dream.

11

Fair Margaret still followed him,
Till she sank amid the wave;
Thus died for each other these lovers true,
And were joined in the grave.





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