Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE HUSBAND'S MESSAGE, by ANONYMOUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE HUSBAND'S MESSAGE, by                    
First Line: See I bring thee a secret message!
Last Line: "belongs to my lord, he lacks but thee"
Subject(s): Riddles


See I bring thee a secret message!
A sapling once in the woods I grew;
I was cut for a stave and covered with writing,
Skilled men cunningly carved upon me
Letters fair, in a faraway land.
Since have I crossed the salt-streams often,
Carried in ships to countries strange;
Sent by my lord, his speech to deliver
In many a towering mead-hall high.
Hither I've sped, the swift keel brought me,
Trial to make of thy trust in my master;
Look thou shalt find him loyal and true.

He told me to come, that carved this letter,
And bid thee recall, in thy costly array,
The pledges ye plighted, the promises fair
Ye gave to each other in days of old,
When still in the land ye lived together,
Happily mated, and held in the mead-halls
Your home and abode. A bitter feud
Banished him far. He bids me call thee,
Earnestly urge thee overseas.
When thou hast heard, from the brow of the hill,
The mournful cuckoo call in the wood,
Let no man living delay thy departure,
Hinder thy going, or hold thee at home.
Away to the sea, where the gulls are circling!
Board me a ship that's bound from the shore;
Sail away south, to seek thy own husband;
Over the water he waits for thee.
No keener joy could come to his heart,
No greater happiness gladden his soul,
Than if God who wieldeth the world, should grant
That ye together should yet give rings,
Treasure of gold to trusty liegemen.
A home he hath found in a foreign land,
Fair abode and followers true,
Hardy heroes, though hence he was driven;
Shoved his boat from the shore in distress,
Steered for the open, sped o'er the ocean,
Weary wave-tossed wanderer he.

Past are his woes, he has won through his perils,
He lives in plenty, no pleasure he lacks;
Nor horses nor goods nor gold of the mead-hall;
All the wealth of earls upon earth
Belongs to my lord, he lacks but thee.






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