Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE HUSBAND'S PETITION, by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Come hither, my heart's darling Last Line: Is all the boon I ask! Alternate Author Name(s): Bon Gaultier (with Theodore Martin) Subject(s): Marriage; Weddings; Husbands; Wives | ||||||||
COME hither, my heart's darling, Come, sit upon my knee, And listen, while I whisper A boon I ask of thee. You need not pull my whiskers So amorously, my dove; 'Tis something quite apart from The gentle cares of love. I feel a bitter craving -- A dark and deep desire, That glows beneath my bosom Like coals of kindled fire. The passion of the nightingale, When singing to the rose, Is feebler than the agony That murders my repose! Nay, dearest! do not doubt me, Though madly thus I speak -- I feel thy arms about me, Thy tresses on my cheek: I know the sweet devotion That links thy heart with mine, -- I know my soul's emotion Is doubly felt by thine: And deem not that a shadow Hath fallen across my love: No, sweet, my love is shadowless, As yonder heaven above. These little taper fingers -- Ah, Jane! how white they be! -- Can well supply the cruel want That almost maddens me. Thou wilt not sure deny me My first and fond request; I pray thee, by the memory Of all we cherish best -- By all the dear remembrance Of those delicious days, When, hand in hand, we wandered Along the summer braes; By all we felt, unspoken, When 'neath the early moon, We sat beside the rivulet, In the leafy month of June; And by the broken whisper That fell upon my ear, More sweet than angel music, When first I wooed thee, dear! By that great vow which bound thee For ever to my side, And by the ring that made thee My darling and my bride! Thou wilt not fail nor falter, But bend thee to the task -- A BOILED SHEEP'S-HEAD ON SUNDAY Is all the boon I ask! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BLESSING FOR A WEDDING by JANE HIRSHFIELD A SUITE FOR MARRIAGE by DAVID IGNATOW ADVICE TO HER SON ON MARRIAGE by MARY BARBER THE RABBI'S SON-IN-LAW by SABINE BARING-GOULD KISSING AGAIN by DORIANNE LAUX A TIME PAST by DENISE LEVERTOV BOTHWELL: PART 4 by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN |
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