OH to be back in the cool summer shadow Of that old maple-tree down in the meadow; Watching the smiles that grew dearer and dearer, Listening to lips that drew nearer and nearer; Oh to be back in the crimson-topped clover, Sitting again with my Archie, my lover! Oh for the time when I felt his caresses Smoothing away from my forehead the tresses; When up from my heart to my cheek went the blushes, As he said that my voice was as sweet as the thrush's; As he told me, my eyes were bewitchingly jetty, And I answered, 't was only my love made them pretty! Talk not of maiden reserve or of duty Or hide from my vision such visions of beauty; Pulses above may beat calmly and even, -- We have been fashioned for earth, and not heaven: Angels are perfect, I am but a woman; Saints may be passionless, Archie is human. Say not that heaven hath tenderer blisses To her on whose brow drops the soft rain of kisses; Preach not the promise of priests or evangels, -- Loved-crowned, who asks for the crown of the angels? Yea, all that the wall of pure jasper in-closes, Takes not the sweetness from sweet bridal roses! Tell me, that when all this life shall be over, I shall still love him, and he be my lover; That mid flowers more fragrant than clover or heather My Archie and I shall be always together, Loving eternally, met ne'er to sever, Then you may tell me of heaven forever. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IN GRANTCHESTER MEADOWS; ON HEARING A SKYLARK SING by GEORGE SANTAYANA THE FIRST MOVIE by DAVID WAGONER CHAUCERS WORDES UNTO ADAM, HIS OWN SCRIVEYN by GEOFFREY CHAUCER THE BAT by CHARLES LUTWIDGE DODGSON ONE LIFE by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR |