I. THE lady's son rode by the mill; The trees were murmuring on the hill, But in the valley they were still, And seemed with heat to cower: They said that he should be a priest, For so had vowed his sire, deceased; They should have told him too, at least, To fly from Fanny Power. II. The lonely student felt his breast Was like an empty linnet's nest, Divinely moulded to be blest, Yet pining hour by hour: For, see, amid the orchard trees, Her green gown kirtled to her knees, Adown the brake, like whispering breeze, Went lightsome Fanny Power. III. Her eyes cast down a mellow light Upon her neck of glancing white, Like starshine on a snowy night, Or moonshine on a tower. She sang -- he thought her songs were hymns -- An angel's grace was in her limbs; The swan that on Lough Erne swims Is rude to Fanny Power. IV. Returned, he thought the convent dull, At best a heavy heartless lull -- No hopes to cheer, no flowers to cull, No sunshine and no shower. The Abbot sent him to his cell, And spoke of penance and of hell; But nothing in his heart to quell The love of Fanny Power. V. He dreamed of her the livelong day At evening, when he tried to pray, Iustead of other Saints, he'd say, O holy -- Fanny Power! How happier seemed an exile's lot Than living there, unlov'd, forgot; And, oh, best joy! to share his cot His own dear Fanny Power. VI. "Tis vain to strive with Passion's might -- He left the convent walls one night, And she was won to join his flight Before he wooed an hour; So, flying to a freer land, He broke his vow at Love's command, And placed a ring upon the hand Of happy Fanny Power. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DEATH'S JEST-BOOK: SAILORS' [OR MARINERS'] SONG by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES MOONLIT APPLES by JOHN DRINKWATER THE ZONE OF VENUS by ANTIPHANES MOTHER AND CHILD (WAR VICTIMS) by EVELYN D. BANGAY TO JOANNA, ON SENDING ME THE LEAF OF A FLOWER ... WORDSWORTH'S GARDEN by BERNARD BARTON THE GIFT by ALICE EWING BLACKWELL THE FOUR ZOAS: NIGHTS THE THIRD AND FOURTH by WILLIAM BLAKE THE BLACK FOX OF SALMON RIVER by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD |