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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE BROWN-EYED GIRLS OF JERSEY, by HENRY MORFORD Poet's Biography First Line: Before my bark the waves have curled Last Line: Some brown-eyed girl of jersey! Subject(s): New Jersey; Women | |||
Before my bark the waves have curled As it bore me thrice around the world; And for forty years have met my eyes The beauties born under wide-spread skies. But though far and long may be my track, It is never too far for looking back; And I see them, -- see them, over the sea, As I saw them when youth still dwelt with me, -- The brown-eyed girls of Jersey! They are Quakers, half, -- half maids of Spain; Half Yankees, with fiery Southern brain; They are English, French, -- they are Irish elves; They are better than all, in being themselves! They are coaxing things, -- then wild and coy; They are full of tears, -- full of mirth and joy. They madden the brain, like rich old wine: And no wonder at all if they've maddened mine, -- The brown-eyed girls of Jersey! Some day, when distant enough my track, To the Land of the Free I shall wander back; And if not too gray, both heart and hair, To win the regard of a thing so fair, -- I shall try the power of the blarney-stone In making some darling girl my own, -- Some darling girl, that still may be Keeping all her beauty and grace for me, -- Some brown-eyed girl of Jersey! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ARISTOTLE TO PHYLLIS by JOHN HOLLANDER A WOMAN'S DELUSION by SUSAN HOWE JULIA TUTWILER STATE PRISON FOR WOMEN by ANDREW HUDGINS THE WOMEN ON CYTHAERON by ROBINSON JEFFERS TOMORROW by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD LADIES FOR DINNER, SAIPAN by KENNETH KOCH GOODBYE TO TOLERANCE by DENISE LEVERTOV A WRECK IN SHREWSBURY INLET by HENRY MORFORD |
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