ON the green sward Thekla's lying, Summer winds are round her sighing, At her feet the ocean plays; In that mirror idly gazing She beholds, with inward praising, Her own beauty in amaze. And with winds and waves attuning Her low voice, in soft communing Said: "If truly I'm so fair, Might the best in our Swedish land Die all for love of my white hand, Azure eyes and golden hair." And fair Thekla bent down gazing, Light her golden curls upraising From her bosom fair to see, Which, within the azure ocean, Glittered back in soft commotion, Like a lotus tremblingly. Saying soft, with pleasure trembling, "If so fair is the resembling, How much fairer I must be! Rose-lipped shadow, smiling brightly, Are we angels floating lightly Through the azure air and sea? "Oh! that beauty never faded, That years passing never shaded Youthful cheek with hues of age! Oh! thou fairest crystal form, Can we not time's hand disarm?" Hark! the winds begin to rage; And with onward heaving motion Rise the waves in wild commotion -- Spirits mournfullest they seem Round the crystal shadow plaining, Shivered, shattered, fades it waning From the maiden like a dream. And from midst the drooping oziers Of the sunny banks' enclosures Rose a woman weird to see: Strange her mien and antique vesture, Yet with friendly look and gesture To the trembling girl spake she. "As the cruel winds bereft thee Of the shadow that hath left thee, Maiden, will thy children steal One by one these treasures from thee, Till all beauty hath foregone thee: Mother's woe is children's weal. "For the beauty of the mother Is the children's -- sister, brother, As she fades away, will bloom. Mother's eyes grow dim by weeping, Wan her cheek, lone vigils keeping: Youthful virgin, 'ware your doom! "Wifely name is sweet from lover, Yet ere many years are over, From the fatal day you wed, Sore you'll rue the holy altar, And the salt sea will grow salter For the bitter tears you'll shed. "See the pallid cheek reflected, Hollow, sunken eyes dejected, Look of weary, wasting pain; All changed for thy beauty rarest: Maiden, tell me, if thou darest Then come here, and look again. "But should lovers' pleading gain thee, Haste thee quick and I will sain thee Ere the marriage vows are said; By the might of magic power, I can save thee from the hour Of a mother's anguish dread." Answered Thekla:: "Save me! save me! Witch or woman, then I crave thee, From a mother's fated doom! So my beauty never fading Thou canst make with magic aiding, Fatal Mother, I shall come." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...REMEMBRANCE by EMILY JANE BRONTE JOHN KEATS (1) by GEORGE GORDON BYRON BUNCHES OF GRAPES by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE THE SAD SONG, FR. THE CAPTAIN by JOHN FLETCHER ON HIS BEING [OR, HAVING] ARRIVED AT THE AGE OF TWENTY-THREE by JOHN MILTON IN THIS AGE OF HARD TRYING, NONCHALANCE IS GOOD AND by MARIANNE MOORE THOUGHT OF A BRITON ON THE SUBJUGATION OF SWITZERLAND by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH |