Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE FORESTER'S COMPLAINT, by SAMUEL FERGUSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE FORESTER'S COMPLAINT, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Through our wild wood-walks here
Last Line: Have I been pining!


THROUGH our wild wood-walks here,
Sunbright and shady,
Free as the forest deer
Roams a lone lady:
Far from her castle keep,
Down in the valley,
Roams she, by dingle deep,
Green holm, and alley,
With her sweet presence bright
Gladd'ning my dwelling --
Oh, fair her face of light,
Past the tongue's telling!
Woe was me
E'er to see
Beauty to shining;
Ever since, hourly,
Have I been pining!

In our blithe sports' debates
Down by the river,
I, of my merry mates,
Foremost was ever;
Skilfullest with my flute
Leading the maidens,
heark'ning by moonlight mute
To its sweet cadence;
Sprightliest in the dance
Tripping together --
Such a one was I once
Ere she came hither!
Woe was me
E'er to see
Beauty so shining;
Ever since, hourly,
Have I been pining!

Loud now my comrades laugh
As I pass by them;
Broadsword and quarter-staff,
No more I ply them:
Coy now the maidens frown,
Wanting their dances;
How can their faces brown
Win one, who fancies
Even an angel's face
Dark to be seen would
Be, by the Lily-grace
Gladd'ning the greenwood?
Woe was me
E'er to see
Beauty so shining;
Ever since, hourly,
Have I been pining!

Wolf, by my broken bow
Idle is lying,
While through the woods I go,
All the day, sighing,
Tracing her footsteps small
Through the moss'd cover,
Hiding then, breathless all,
At the sight of her,
Lest my rude gazing should
From her haunt scare her --
Oh, what a solitude
Wanting her, there were!
Woe was me
E'er to see
Beauty so shining;
Ever since, hourly,
Have I been pining!





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