SINGING careless through the forest In the month of May, I met Love among the bracken And, all in wanton play, Flung the babe upon my shoulder, Carried him away, Singing careless through the forest In the month of May. I bore Love upon my shoulder, The babe became a boy, Kept me merry with his laughter, With his manners coy; And I went lightly through the forest, Sang low notes of joy, For that Love was on my shoulder And was grown a boy. Love grew up, Love grew too quickly, His weight was hard to bear, And when I tried to toss him from me He held me by the hair, Till I went softly through the forest Full of silent care, For that Love was grown a tyrant And was hard to bear. My burden soon will sink or save me, The river is at hand, And, as I stumble on, I wonder If I shall win to land, And in what guise this Love I carry Will then before me stand, For I cannot see his features, And the river is at hand. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IN A LECTURE-ROOM by ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH SONGS IN ABSENCE: 7. THE SHIP by ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH METRICAL FEET by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE NIGHTMARE, FR. IOLANTHE by WILLIAM SCHWENCK GILBERT TO ANTHEA [WHO MAY COMMAND HIM ANYTHING] by ROBERT HERRICK THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT; AN ODE ATTEMPTED IN ENGLISH SAPPHIC by ISAAC WATTS RUNNING TO PARADISE by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS |