Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE BALLAD OF THE STUDENT IN THE SOUTH, by JAMES ELROY FLECKER



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BALLAD OF THE STUDENT IN THE SOUTH, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: It was no sooner than this morn
Last Line: And love the whole night through.
Subject(s): Youth


It was no sooner than this morn
That first I found you there,
Deep in a field of southern corn
The colour of your hair.

I had read books you had not read,
Yet I was put to shame
To hear the simple words you said,
And see your eyes aflame.

Shall I forget when prying dawn
Sends me about my way,
The careless stars, the quiet lawn,
And you with whom I lay?

Yours is the beauty of the moon,
The wisdom of the sea,
Since first you tasted, sweet and soon,
Of God's forbidden tree.

Darling, a scholar's fancies sink
So faint beneath your song;
And you are right, why should we think,
We who are young and strong?

For we are simple, you and I,
We do what others do,
Who live because they fear to die
And love the whole night through.





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