Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE RING'S MOTTO, by ANONYMOUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE RING'S MOTTO, by                    
First Line: A lover gave the wedding-ring
Last Line: Till death us join
Subject(s): Jewelry & Jewelers;marriage; Weddings;husbands;wives


A LOVER gave the wedding ring
Into the goldsmith's hand;
"Grave me," he said, "a tender thought
Within the golden band."
The goldsmith graved
With careful art,
"Till death us part."

The wedding bell rang gladly out;
The husband said, "O wife,
Together we shall share the grief,
The happiness of life.
I give to thee
My hand, my heart,
Till death us part."

'T was she that lifted now his hand,
(O love, that this should be!)
Then on it placed the golden band,
And whispered tenderly:
"Till death us join,
Lo, thou art mine,
And I am thine.

"And when death joins, we nevermore
Shall know an aching heart,
The bridal of that better love
Death has no power to part.
That troth will be,
For thee and me,
Eternity."

So up the hill and down the hill,
Through fifty changing years,
They shared each other's happiness,
They dried each other's tears.
Alas, alas,
That death's cold dart
Such love can part!

But one sad day -- she stood alone
Beside his narrow bed;
She drew the ring from off her hand,
And to the goldsmith said:
"O man who graved
With careful art,
'Till death us part,'

"Now grave four other words for me, --
'Till death us join.'" He took
The precious golden band once more,
With solemn, wistful look,
And wrought with care,
For love, not coin,
"Till death us join."





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