OH to be back in the cool summer shadow Of that old maple-tree down in the meadow; Watching the smiles that grew dearer and dearer, Listening to lips that drew nearer and nearer; Oh to be back in the crimson-topped clover, Sitting again with my Archie, my lover! Oh for the time when I felt his caresses Smoothing away from my forehead the tresses; When up from my heart to my cheek went the blushes, As he said that my voice was as sweet as the thrush's; As he told me, my eyes were bewitchingly jetty, And I answered, 't was only my love made them pretty! Talk not of maiden reserve or of duty Or hide from my vision such visions of beauty; Pulses above may beat calmly and even, -- We have been fashioned for earth, and not heaven: Angels are perfect, I am but a woman; Saints may be passionless, Archie is human. Say not that heaven hath tenderer blisses To her on whose brow drops the soft rain of kisses; Preach not the promise of priests or evangels, -- Loved-crowned, who asks for the crown of the angels? Yea, all that the wall of pure jasper in-closes, Takes not the sweetness from sweet bridal roses! Tell me, that when all this life shall be over, I shall still love him, and he be my lover; That mid flowers more fragrant than clover or heather My Archie and I shall be always together, Loving eternally, met ne'er to sever, Then you may tell me of heaven forever. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR by JAMES DAVID CORROTHERS THE VOICE OF THE RAIN by WALT WHITMAN SONNET: A PREACHER by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH CHEMISTRY OF A POEM by CAROLYN AUSTIN LOVE'S ARROW POISONED by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES LOVE ON THE MOUNTAIN by THOMAS BOYD |