O, soft, soft, where the sunshine spread, Then through my being came and went The world should wake and be a soul. MY APRIL LADY WHEN down the stair at morning The sun-rays round her float, Are bubbling in her throat; When in the evening twilight My little April lady! Of sunshine and of showers And breaks my heart in flowers: I know her name is Love. Henry Van Dyke [1852 The Milkmaid 555 THE MILKMAID A NEW SONG TO AN OLD TUNE ACROSS the grass I see her pass; She comes with tripping pace,- With a hey, Dolly! ho, Dolly! Dolly shall be mine, Before the spray is white with May, The March winds blow. I watch her go: Her cheek is brown, and soft as down, (To those who see it near!) With a hey, Dolly! ho, Dolly! Dolly shall be mine, Before the spray is white with May, What has she not that those have got, The dames that walk in silk! If she undo her kerchief blue, Her neck is white as milk. With a hey, Dolly! ho, Dolly! Dolly shall be mine, Before the spray is white with May, Let those who will be proud and chill! Her laugh is like a tune; With a hey, Dolly! ho, Dolly! Dolly shall be mine, Before the spray is white with May, Break, break to hear, O crocus-spear! There'll be a bride at Easter-tide, And Dolly is her name. With a hey, Dolly! ho, Dolly! Dolly shall be mine, Before the spray is white with May, Or blooms the eglantine. Austin Dobson [1840 SONG THIS peach is pink with such a pink But where to spy the truest pink The snowdrop, child of windy March, Norman Gale [1862 IN FEBRUARY My Lady's birthday crowns the growing year; J, too, would chant her worth and dare to raise Go, little verse, and lay in vesture meet Of poesy, my homage at her feet. Henry Simpson [1790-1868] Ballade of My Lady's Beauty MY LOVE LIKE rain-pools over Autumn leaves, The whiteness of her throat; Her movements of the languorous grace Her voice is sweet as silver bells O'er sheets of moonlit snow; Her mouth, a full ripe flower, where dwells The sunset's vermeil glow: Her soul is tender as blue skies A Southern day above; While in her heart all priceless lies The diamond of her love. Robert Adger Bowen [1868 BALLADE OF MY LADY'S BEAUTY SQUIRE ADAM had two wives, they say, He kissed and clypt them all the day, And Lilith, roses dipped in wine, But though they were a goodly sight, No lady is so fair as mine. To Venus some folk tribute pay, And Queen of Beauty she is hight, And Sainte Marie the world doth sway, My wonderment these twain invite, Their comeliness it is divine; And yet I say in their despite, No lady is so fair as mine. 557 Dame Helen caused a grievous fray, And put their hearts in woeful plight. For her no garlands will I twine; Though she be made of flowers and light, No lady is so fair as mine. L'ENVOI Prince Eros, Lord of lovely might, Who on Olympus doth recline, Do I not tell the truth aright? No lady is so fair as mine. Joyce Kilmer [18 URSULA I SEE her in the festal warmth to-night, To-morrow she will toil from floor to floor ah me! Robert Underwood Johnson [1853- VILLANELLE OF HIS LADY'S TREASURE I TOOK her dainty eyes, as well As silken tendrils of her hair: And so I made a Villanelle! I took her voice, a silver bell, As clear as song, as soft as prayer; I took her dainty eyes as well. |