Sixteen Poems | Page 4

the winter winds didn't shake it down;?The newest cross keeps the colour bright;?When the straw was reaping my heart was light.
The reapers rose with the blink of morn,?And gaily stook'd up the yellow corn;?To call them home to the field I'd run,?Through the blowing breeze and the summer sun.
When the straw was weaving my heart was glad,?For neither sin nor shame I had,?In the barn where oat-chaff was flying round,?And the thumping flails made a pleasant sound.
Now summer or winter to me it's one;?But oh! for a day like the time that's gone.?I'd little care was it storm or shine,?If I had but peace in this heart of mine.
Oh! light and false is a young man's kiss,?And a foolish girl gives her soul for this.?Oh! light and short is the young man's blame,?And a helpless girl has the grief and shame.
To the river-bank once I thought to go,?And cast myself in the stream below;?I thought 'twould carry us far out to sea,?Where they'd never find my poor babe and me.
Sweet Lord, forgive me that wicked mind!?You know I used to be well-inclined.?Oh, take compassion upon my state,?Because my trouble is so very great.
My head turns round with the spinning wheel,?And a heavy cloud on my eyes I feel.?But the worst of all is at my heart's core;?For my innocent days will come back no more.
THE NOBLEMAN'S WEDDING
I once was a guest at a Nobleman's wedding;?Fair was the Bride, but she scarce had been kind,?And now in our mirth, she had tears nigh the shedding?Her former true lover still runs in her mind.
Attired like a minstrel, her former true lover?Takes up his harp, and runs over the strings;?And there among strangers, his grief to discover,?A fair maiden's falsehood he bitterly sings.
'Now here is the token of gold that was broken;?Seven long years it was kept for your sake;?You gave it to me as a true lover's token;?No longer I'll wear it, asleep or awake.'
She sat in her place by the head of the table,?The words of his ditty she mark'd them right well:?To sit any longer this bride was not able,?So down at the bridegroom's feet she fell.
'O one, one request, my lord, one and no other,?O this one request will you grant it to me??To lie for this night in the arms of my mother,?And ever, and ever thereafter with thee.'
Her one, one request it was granted her fairly;?Pale were her cheeks as she went up to bed;?And the very next morning, early, early,?They rose and they found this young bride was dead.
The bridegroom ran quickly, he held her, he kiss'd her, He spoke loud and low, and listen'd full fain;?He call'd on her waiting-maids round to assist her?But nothing could bring the lost breath back again.
O carry her softly! the grave is made ready;?At head and at foot plant a laurel-bush green;?For she was a young and a sweet noble lady,?The fairest young bride that I ever have seen.
KATE O' BELASHANNY
Seek up and down, both fair and brown,?We've purty lasses many, O;?But brown or fair, one girl most rare,?The Flow'r o' Belashanny, O.?As straight is she as poplar-tree?(Tho' not as aisy shaken, O,)?And walks so proud among the crowd,?For queen she might be taken, O.
From top to toe, where'er you go,?The loveliest girl of any, O,--?Ochone! your mind I find unkind,?Sweet Kate o' Belashanny, O!
One summer day the banks were gay,?The Erne in sunshine glancin' there,?The big cascade its music play'd?And set the salmon dancin' there.?Along the green my Joy was seen;?Some goddess bright I thought her there;?The fishes, too, swam close, to view?Her image in the water there.
From top to toe, where'er you go,?The loveliest girl of any, O,--?Ochone! your mind I find unkind,?Sweet Kate o' Belashanny, O!
My dear, give ear!--the river's near,?And if you think I'm shammin' now,?To end my grief I'll seek relief?Among the trout and salmon, now;?For shrimps and sharks to make their marks,?And other watery vermin there;?Unless a mermaid saves my life,--?My wife, and me her merman there.
From top to toe, where'er you go,?The loveliest girl of any, O,--?Mavrone! your mind I find unkind,?Sweet Kate o' Belashanny, O!
'Tis all in vain that I complain;?No use to coax or chide her there;?As far away from me as Spain,?Although I stand beside her there.?O cruel Kate! since that's my fate,?I'll look for love no more in you;?The seagull's screech as soon would reach?Your heart, as me implorin' you.
Tho' fair you are, and rare you are,?The loveliest flow'r of any, O,--?Too proud and high,--good-bye, say I,?To Kate o' Belashanny, O!
FOUR DUCKS ON A POND
Four ducks on a pond,?A grass-bank beyond,?A blue sky of spring,?White clouds on the wing;?What a little thing?To remember for years--?To remember with tears!
?OLIAN HARP
What is it that is gone, we fancied ours??Oh what is lost that never may be told?--?We stray all afternoon,