FOR a year and a day I must tarry away; 'Twas the will of my lady, of her I loved best. With a sorrowful heart when she bade me depart, I was fain to submit, it was vain to protest. A year and a day I must tarry away, Alack a-day, sadly I hear and obey. Not for honor or fame, nor to gain a great name Did my lady decree that I leave her alone. My affection to prove, and the strength of my love, By this means she declared would be perfectly shown. For a year and a day I must tarry away, Alack a-day, sadly I hear and obey. With a tear in her eye and a sobbing good-bye, She bade me "God speed" as the ship sailed away. "I'll be faithful and true as the stars unto you." She whispered to me, but no word could I say. A year and a day, Would it e'er roll away? Alack a-day, sadly I hear and obey. For a year and a day I had tarried away Not a message nor line from my lady to me. A wand'rer no more on a lone, distant shore, I brought my fair bride home from over the sea. Alack a-day, well-a-day, What shall I say? To her who was constant A year and day! Ah, my fears are at rest though I stood not the test That my lady imposed for a year and a day: She is wooed, won and wed, with a stranger she fled, To escape my reproaches she hastened away. Alack a-day, well-a-day. What shall we say? When neither was constant A year and a day! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PROMETHEUS by GEORGE GORDON BYRON THE EVENING STAR by THOMAS CAMPBELL THE RUBAIYAT, 1879 EDITION: 13 by OMAR KHAYYAM MAUBERLEY: 5. MEDALLION by EZRA POUND TROY TOWN by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI THE INCENSE BURNER by ABUS SALT |