"Et hæc olim meminisse juvabit." THE bell that strikes the warning hour, Reminds me that I should not linger, And winds around my heart its power, Tight as the string around my finger. A sweet good-night I give, and then Far from my thoughts I need must fling her, Who blessed that lovely evening, when She tied the string around my finger. Lovely and virtuous, kind and fair, A sweet-toned bell, O! who shall ring her! Of her let bell men all beware, Who ties such strings around their finger. What shall I do? -- I'll sit me down, And, in my leisure hours, I'll sing her Who gave me neither smile nor frown, But tied a thread around my finger. Now may the quiet star-lit hours Their gentlest dews and perfumes bring her; And morning show its sweetest flowers To her whose string is round my finger. And never more may I forget The spot where I so long did linger;-- But watch another chance, and get Another string around my finger. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SAINT PATRICK by EDWIN MARKHAM CYMON AND IPHIGENIA by GIOVANNI BOCCACCIO THE SNOWING OF THE PINES' by THOMAS WENTWORTH HIGGINSON THE ALLEY. AN IMITATION OF SPENSER by ALEXANDER POPE THE CENTAURS by JAMES STEPHENS TWO SONNETS FROM NEW YORK: QUESTIONS by ADELAIDE NICHOLS BAKER THE PESSIMIST by LOUISA SARAH BEVINGTON THE SOUL by HARRY RANDOLPH BLYTHE BRITANNIA'S PASTORALS: BOOK 3. THE SECOND SONG by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) |