Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE WORK-GIRL, by JOHAN LUDVIG RUNEBERG


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE WORK-GIRL, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Oh, if with church bells ringing clear
Last Line: Or when the tardy eve will close!
Alternate Author Name(s): Runeberg, J. L.


OH, IF with church bells ringing clear,
I did but stand in feast-day gear.
And saw the night and darkness fly.
And Sunday's lovely dawn draw nigh!

For then my weekly toil were past;
To matins I might go at last,
And meet him by the church-yard too.
Who missed his friend the whole week through.

There long beforehand does he bide
Alone upon the church bank's side.
And scans across the marshes long
The sledges' and the people's throng.

And she for whom he looks am I ;
The crowds increase, the troop draws nigh,
When 'midst them I am seen to stand,
And gladly reach to him my hand.

Now, merry cricket, sing thy lay
Until the wick is burnt away,
And I may to my bed repair
And dream about my sweetheart there.

I sit and spin, but cannot get
Half through the skein of wool as yet;
When I shall spin it out, God knows,
Or when the tardy eve will close!






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