Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, POOR MARY, by ROYALL TYLER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

POOR MARY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Stay stranger - see yon drooping fair
Last Line: Poor mary.
Alternate Author Name(s): Old Simon; S.
Subject(s): Grief; Sorrow; Sadness


"He simply told the village tale"

STAY stranger -- see yon drooping fair,
Why stream the tears from either eye?
Why loose her locks of auburn hair,
And pale her cheek? Say, stranger, why?

The lily now usurps the place
On Mary's cheek, where bloom'd the rose;
Her eye once beam'd with ev'ry grace,
Which now with pearly tears o'erflows.

What bids those pearly tears to flow,
And dims the radiance of those eyes?
Why bears the maid the garb of wo,
Say, why does Mary heave those sighs?

"The tale is sad. Young Henry lov'd
The weeping maid; his love was true,
And Mary soon his vows approved,
For Henry's matchless worth she knew.

"Each youth and maiden bless'd the pair,
Their joy became the village theme,
But joy was darken'd by despair,
And vanish'd like a morning dream.

"For, ah! the bud of love scarce bloom'd,
(Their guileless hearts with hopes elate,)
When to the grave untimely doom'd,
Poor Mary mourn'd her Henry's fate!

"Twas this that caus'd that look of wo,
And chang'd to pale that rosy hue,
For this those tears of sorrow flow,
And dim her eyes of heavenly blue."

Sweet maid, farewell -- thy sorrows claim
A tear from gentle Pity's eye,
And when we sigh poor Mary's name,
That Echo should responsive sigh,
Poor Mary.





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