I SENT my love a parcel In the days when we were young, Or e'er by care and trouble Our heart-strings had been wrung. By parcels post I sent it -- What 'twas I do not know -- In the days when we were courting, A long time ago. The spring-time waxed to summer, Then autumn leaves grew red, And in the sweet September My love and I were wed. But though the Church had blessed us, My little wife looked glum; I'd posted her a parcel, And the parcel hadn't come. Ah, many moons came after, And then there was a voice, A little voice whose music Would make our hearts rejoice. And, singing to her baby, My dear one oft would say, "I wonder, baby darling, Will that parcel come to-day?" The gold had changed to silver Upon her matron brow; The years were eight-and-twenty Since we breathed our marriage vow, And our grandchildren were playing Hunt-the-slipper on the floor, When they saw the postman standing By our open cottage door. Then they ran with joy to greet him, For they knew he'd come at last; They had heard me tell the story Very often in the past. He handed them a parcel, And they brought it in to show -- 'Twas the parcel I had posted Eight-and-twenty years ago. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE DEATH OF GRANT by AMBROSE BIERCE THE HOMERIC HEXAMETER [DESCRIBED AND EXEMPLIFIED] by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE THE HOCK-CART, OR HARVEST HOME by ROBERT HERRICK SNEEZING by JAMES HENRY LEIGH HUNT A LONDON FETE by COVENTRY KERSEY DIGHTON PATMORE |