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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

JOSEPHINE by WINTHROP MACKWORTH PRAED

Poet Analysis

First Line: WE DID NOT MEET IN COURTLY HALL
Last Line: MY POOR JOSEPHINE!
WE did not meet in courtly hall,
Where birth and beauty throng,
Where luxury holds festival,
And wit awakes the song:
We met where darker spirits meet,
In the home of sin and shame,
Where Satan shows his cloven feet,
And hides his titled name;
And she knew she could not be, love,
What once she might have been,
But she was kind to me, love,
My pretty Josephine.

We did not part beneath the sky,
As warmer lovers part,
Where night conceals the glistening eye,
But not the throbbing heart;
We parted on the spot of ground
Where we first had laugh'd at love,
And ever the jests were loud around,
And the lamps were bright above:
"The heaven is very dark, love,
The blast is very keen,
But merrily rides my bark, love --
Good night, my Josephine!"

She did not speak of ring or vow,
But filled the cup of wine,
And took the roses from her brow
To make a wreath for mine;
And bade me, when the gale should lift
My light skiff on the wave,
To think as little of the gift
As of the hand that gave;
"Go gayly o'er the sea, love,
And find your own heart's queen;
And look not back to me, love
Your humble Josephine!"

That garland breathes and blooms no more,
Past are those idle hours;
I would not, could I choose, restore
The fondness or the flowers;
Yet oft their wither'd witchery
Revives its wonted thrill,
Remember'd -- not with passion's sigh,
But oh! remember'd still!
And even from your side, love,
And even from this scene,
One look is o'er the tide, love,
One thought with Josephine!

Alas! your lips are rosier,
Your eyes of softer blue,
And I have never felt for her
As I have felt for you;
Our love was like the snow flakes,
Which melt before you pass --
Or the bubble on the wine, which breaks
Before you lip the glass.
You saw these eyelids wet, love,
Which she has never seen:
But bid me not forget, love,
My poor Josephine!



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