The soft rain pattered on the leaves, The April grass was wet. 'Tis wiser to forget. The nightingales made vocal 'Twere wisdom to forget. I stood among the gold corn, Of the love that fell from you. The streamlet now is frozen, Hamilton Aidé [1826–1906] NANCY DAWSON NANCY DAWSON, Nancy Dawson, Not so very long ago Some one wronged you from sheer love, dear; Little thinking it would crush, dear, All I cherished in you so. My Little Love But now, what's the odds, my Nancy? Nancy Dawson, Nancy Dawson, Till I feel the sad hours creep, dear, O'er my heart; as o'er my cheek, dear, Once of old, that old, old hair: And then, unawares, my Nancy, You are Nancy, that old Nancy; T Herbert P. Horne [1864 989 MY LITTLE LOVE GOD keep you safe, my little love, All through the night. Rest close in His encircling arms Until the light. My heart is with you as I kneel to pray, "Good night! God keep you in His care alway." Thick shadows creep like silent ghosts About my bed. I lose myself in tender dreams While overhead The moon comes stealing through the window bars. A silver sickle gleaming 'mid the stars. For I, though I am far away, Feel safe and strong, To trust you thus, dear love, and yet 1 I say with sobbing breath the old fond prayer, "Good night! Sweet dreams! God keep you everywhere!" Charles B. Hawley [1858 990 FOR EVER THRICE with her lips she touched my lips, And three times thrice looked towards the sea, But never to the land: Then, "Sweet," she said, "no more delay, I, with my passion in my heart, But striving often to depart, I strained her to my breast: The anchor swings, the sheet flies loose The tall ship, never to return, O Love, turn towards the land thy sight! No more peruse the sea; Our God, who severs thus our hearts, For me let waste-wide ocean swing, I too lie safe beneath His wing. William Caldwell Roscoe [1823-1859) AUF WIEDERSEHEN THE little gåte was reached at last, "Forever and a Day" With hand on latch, a vision white The lamp's clear gleam flits up the stair; Ah, in that chamber, whose rich air 'Tis thirteen years; once more I press I hear the rustle of her dress, Sweet piece of bashful maiden art! The English words had seemed too fain, But these they drew us heart to heart, Yet held us tenderly apart; She said,-"Auf wiedersehen!" 991 James Russell Lowell [1819-1891] "FOREVER AND A DAY" I LITTLE know or care If the blackbird on the bough Is filling all the air With his soft crescendo now; For she is gone away, It's little that I mind How the blossoms, pink or white, At every touch of wind Beneath the garden-boughs, The May is not the May, And what she calls a week Is forever and a day!, Thomas Bailey Aldrich [1837-1907] OLD GARDENS THE white rose tree that spent its musk The stately walks we sought at dusk, Again, with once-familiar feet, I hear the birds of evening call; I pluck a rose-to let it fall And perish in the gloom. Arthur Upson [1877-1908] FERRY HINKSEY BEYOND the ferry water That fast and silent flowed, She turned, she gazed a moment, Then took her onward road |