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NANNY, by                    
First Line: Oh, for an hour when the day is breaking
Last Line: Queen of the pure hearts! Do I love thee.


OH, for an hour when the day is breaking,
Down by the shore when the tide is making,
Fair as a white cloud, thou, love, near me,
None but the waves and thyself to hear me!
Oh, to my breast how these arms would press thee;
Wildly my heart in its joy would bless thee;
Oh, how the soul thou hast won would woo thee,
Girl of the snow-neck! closer to me.

Oh, for an hour as the day advances,
Out where the breeze on the broom-bush dances
Watching the lark, with the sun-ray o'er us,
Winging the notes of his heaven-taught chorus!
Oh, to be there, and my love before me,
Soft as a moonbeam smiling o'er me;
Thou would'st but love, and I would woo thee,
Girl of the dark eye! closer to me.

Oh, for an hour where the sun first found us,
Out in the eve with its red sheets round us,
Brushing the dew from the gale's soft winglets,
Pearly and sweet, with their long dark ringlets!
Oh, to be there on the sward beside thee,
Telling my tale, though I know you'd chide me;
Sweet were thy voice, though it should undo me --
Girl of the dark locks! closer to me.

Oh, for an hour by night or by day, love,
Just as the heavens and thou might say, love,
Far from the stare of the cold-eyed many,
Bound in the breath of my dove-souled Nanny!
Oh, for the pure chains that have bound me,
Warm from thy red lips circling round me!
Oh, in my soul, as the light above me,
Queen of the pure hearts! do I love thee.





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