GOD be with thee, my beloved, -- GOD be with thee! Else alone thou goest forth, Thy face unto the north, Moor and pleasance all around thee and beneath thee Looking equal in one snow; While I, who try to reach thee, Vainly follow, vainly follow With the farewell and the hollo, And cannot reach thee so. Alas, I can but teach thee! GOD be with thee, my beloved, -- GOD be with thee! II Can I teach thee, my beloved, -- can teach thee? If I said, 'Go left or right,' The counsel would be light, The wisdom, poor of all that could enrich thee; My right would show like left; My raising would depress thee, My choice of light would blind thee, Of way -- would leave behind thee, Of end -- would leave bereft. Alas, I can but bless thee! May GOD teach thee, my beloved, -- may GOD teach thee! III Can I bless thee, my beloved, -- can I bless thee? What blessing word can I From mine own tears keep dry? What flowers grow in my field wherewith to dress thee? My good reverts to ill; My calmnesses would move thee, My softnesses would prick thee, My bindings up would break thee, My crownings curse and kill. Alas, I can but love thee! May GOD bless thee, my beloved, -- may God bless thee! IV Can I love thee, my beloved, -- can I love thee? And is this like love, to stand With no help in my hand, When strong as death I fain would watch above thee? My love-kiss can deny No tear that falls beneath it; Mine oath of love can swear thee From no ill that comes near thee, And thou diest while I breathe it, And I -- I can but die! May GOD love thee, my beloved, -- may GOD love thee! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SUMMER DAYS by WATHEN MARK WILKS CALL WINDY NIGHTS by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON THE ROSE I GREW by JULIA S. ANDERSON THE WANDERING JEW by PIERRE JEAN DE BERANGER THE FALCON by GRACE UPDEGRAFF BERGEN A NEW PILGRIMAGE: 20 by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT THOUGHTS AFTER VIRGIL by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB THE ROCK OF LIBERTY; A PILGRIM ODE, 1629-1920: 1. VISION by ABBIE FARWELL BROWN |