WHO are you, tell me, beauteous shade; And tell me what your name may be? A virgin lived not far from me Whose eyes were all her treasury; --And I that virgin am, she said; Gather the holly from the tree. You're clad in white, O beauteous shade; Now tell me what your name may be? While tending oxen on the lea, Claud's sweet looks stole her heart, ah me! --And I that maiden am, she said; Gather the holly from the tree. You're decked with flowers, beauteous shade; Now tell me what your name may be? In madness hearts and winds agree, A kiss their union caused, ah me! --I am that loving girl, she said; Gather the holly from the tree. You have shed tears, O beauteous shade; Now tell me what your name may be? The maiden had a son, ah me! God took him from her to His knee, --And I the mother am, she said; Gather the holly from the tree. You're pale and wan, O beauteous shade; Now tell me what your name may be? In holes for shelter did she flee, Like owls to hide away, ah me! --I am that girl distraught, she said; Gather the holly from the tree. You're very cold, O beauteous shade; Now tell me what your name may be? Our loves and winning looks we see Are oft our coffin nails, ah me! --I the dead maiden am, she said; Gather the holly from the tree. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...YOUTH, DAY, OLD AGE AND NIGHT by WALT WHITMAN WYATT BEING IN PRISON, TO BRIAN by THOMAS WYATT LAURENCE BLOOMFIELD IN IRELAND: 2. FINLAY by WILLIAM ALLINGHAM UNDOMESTICATED ANIMALS by BERTON BRALEY FOOT-PRINTS by ANNE MILLAY BREMER |