Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A SPINNING SONG, by LIZETTE WOODWORTH REESE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A SPINNING SONG, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: How many lilies be ablow?
Last Line: Oh, love's bitter!
Subject(s): Love - Complaints; Spinning


HOW many lilies be ablow?
Count them and see --
Seven by the wail, and seven by the door;
'Tis time he came to me.
Oh, love's bitter!
Was ever a whiter web than this
That I spin to-day?
A wedding gown or a winding sheet,
Love, which shall it be?
Oh, love's bitter!
The old dames stand in the street,
'Neath the willow trees;
And they mark how white my lilies blow,
And they hear my bees.
Oh, love's bitter!
And one dame says, "Five lads of mine
Be in the sea;"
Another says, "That lad of mine,
He came not back to me."
Oh, love's bitter!
The willow trees grow down to the wharves,
Green as of old;
(Green as the day he went from me;)
The sea is of gold.
Oh, 1ove's bitter!
Two ships I see: one in the west --
Love is it thine?
One in the east, in a windy mist --
Oh, love, which is thine?
Oh, love's bitter!
Then speak the dames : "Her ship went down
That night at sea."
My seven white lilies -- do ye hear?
For this they speak of me!
Oh, love's bitter!






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