Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SEPTEMBER IN THE NORTH, by WENDELL PHILLIPS STAFFORD


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SEPTEMBER IN THE NORTH, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: O love, do you remember
Last Line: "when you and I are wed!"
Subject(s): Marriage; September; Weddings; Husbands; Wives


O love, do you remember,
When you and I were wed,
That sun ... a golden ember ...
Those hills ... a regal red?
It was not old November
With ashes on her head;
It was not cold December
In mantle dun and lead:
'T was burning, bold September,
'T was gorgeous, gold September,
'T was scarlet-stoled September
When you and I were wed.

It was not April heaping
The snowdrops on her head;
It was not summer sleeping
With poppies round her bed;
It was not winter faring
With slow and sullen tread,
For ball and sceptre bearing
A withered staff instead:
'T was golden-globed September,
Sceptered and globed September,
'T was royal-robed September
When you and I were wed.

'T was not Love's hour of roses:
They faded ere he fled
From sun-forsaken closes
Where all his dreams lay dead—
With mantle frayed and flying
And wounded wings outspread ...
To his own kingdom, lying
Guerdoned and garlanded.
'T was glory-rolled September,—
Fold-upon-fold September,
Purple and gold September,
When you and I were wed.

Ah, sweet, do you remember?
We lauded Love and said:
"Now June and not December
Be counted drear and dread;
Love kept his daffodillies
Till all their gold was dead:
He slept among his lilies
Till all their gold was shed;
But then he gave September,
The bright and brave September,
And now, God save September,
When you and I are wed!"





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