Only of thee and me the breakers chant, Only of us the stir in bush and tree; The rain and sunshine tell the eager plant Only of thee and me.
Only of thee and me, till all shall fade; Only of us the whole world's thoughts can be - For we are Love, and God Himself is made Only of thee and me.
Louis Untermeyer [1885-
TO ---
One word is too often profaned For me to profane it, One feeling too falsely disdained For thee to disdain it. One hope is too like despair For prudence to smother, And Pity from thee more dear Than that from another.
I can give not what men call love; But wilt thou accept not The worship the heart lifts above And the Heavens reject not: The desire of the moth for the star, Of the night for the morrow, The devotion to something afar From the sphere of our sorrow?
Percy Bysshe Shelley [1792-1822]
FROM THE ARABIC
My faint spirit was sitting in the light Of thy looks, my love; It panted for thee like the hind at noon For the brooks, my love. Thy barb, whose hoofs outspeed the tempest's flight, Bore thee far from me; My heart, for my weak feet were weary soon, Did companion thee.
Ah! fleeter far than fleetest storm or steed, Or the death they bear, The heart which tender thought clothes like a dove With the wings of care; In the battle, in the darkness, in the need, Shall mine cling to thee, Nor claim one smile for all the comfort, love, It may bring to thee.
Percy Bysshe Shelley [1792-1822]
THE WANDERING KNIGHT'S SONG
My ornaments are arms, My pastime is in war, My bed is cold upon the wold, My lamp yon star.
My journeyings are long, My slumbers short and broken; From hill to hill I wander still, Kissing thy token.
I ride from land to land, I sail from sea to sea; Some day more kind I fate may find, Some night, kiss thee.
John Gibson Lockhart [1794-1854]
SONG
Love's on the highroad, Love's in the byroad - Love's on the meadow, and Love's in the mart! And down every byway Where I've taken my way I've met Love a-smiling - for Love's in my heart!
Dana Burnet [1888-
THE SECRET LOVE
You and I have found the secret way, None can bar our love or say us nay: All the world may stare and never know You and I are twined together so.
You and I for all his vaunted width Know the giant Space is but a myth; Over miles and miles of pure deceit You and I have found our lips can meet.
You and I have laughed the leagues apart In the soft delight of heart to heart. If there's a gulf to meet or limit set, You and I have never found it yet.
You and I have trod the backward way To the happy heart of yesterday, To the love we felt in ages past. You and I have found it still to last.
You and I have found the joy had birth In the angel childhood of the earth, Hid within the heart of man and maid. You and I of Time are not afraid.
You and I can mock his fabled wing, For a kiss is an immortal thing. And the throb wherein those old lips met Is a living music in us yet.
A. E. (George William Russell) [1867-1935]
THE FLOWER OF BEAUTY
Sweet in her green dell the flower of beauty slumbers, Lulled by the faint breezes sighing through her hair; Sleeps she, and hears not the melancholy numbers Breathed to my sad lute amid the lonely air?
Down from the high cliffs the rivulet is teeming To wind round the willow-banks that lure him from above: Oh that, in tears from my rocky prison streaming, I too could glide to the bower of my love!
Ah, where the woodbines with sleepy arms have wound her, Opes she her eyelids at the dream of my lay, Listening like the dove, while the fountains echo round her, To her lost mate's call in the forest far away?
Come, then, my bird! for the peace thou ever bearest, Still Heaven's messenger of comfort be to me; Come! this fond bosom, my faithfulest, my fairest, Bleeds with its death-wound, - but deeper yet for thee.
George Darley [1795-1846]
MY SHARE OF THE WORLD
I am jealous: I am true: Sick at heart for love of you, O my share of the world! I am cold, O, cold as stone To all men save you alone.
Seven times slower creeps the day When your face is far away, O my share of the world! Seven times darker falls the night. When you gladden not my sight.
Measureless my joy and pride Would you choose me for your bride, O my share of the world! For your face is my delight, Morn and even, noon and night.
To the dance and to the wake Still I go but for your sake, O my share of the world! Just to see your face awhile Meet your eyes and win your smile.
And the gay word on my lip Never lets my secret slip To my share of the world! Light my feet trip over the green - But my heart cries in the keen!
My poor mother sighs anew When my looks go after you, O my share of the world! And my father's brow grows black When you smile and turn your back.
I would part with wealth and ease, I would go beyond the seas, For my share of the world! I would leave my hearth and home If he only whispered "Come!"
Houseless under sun and dew, I would beg my bread with you, O my share of the world! Houseless in the snow and storm, Your heart's love would keep me warm.
I would pray and I would crave To be with you in the grave, O my share of the world! I would go through fire and flood, I would give up all but God For my share of the world!
Alice Furlong [1875-
SONG
A lake and a fairy boat To sail in the moonlight clear, - And merrily we would float From the dragons that watch us here!
Thy gown should be snow-white silk, And strings of orient pearls, Like gossamers dipped in milk, Should twine with thy raven curls.
Red rubies should deck thy hands, And diamonds be thy dower - But fairies have broke their wands, And wishing has lost its power!
Thomas Hood [1799-1845]
"SMILE AND NEVER HEED ME"
Though, when other maids stand by, I may deign thee no reply, Turn not then away, and sigh, - Smile, and never heed me!
If our love, indeed, be such As must thrill at every touch, Why should others learn as much? - Smile, and never heed me!
Even if, with maiden pride, I should bid thee quit my side, Take this lesson for thy guide, - Smile, and never heed me!
But when stars and twilight meet, And the dew is falling sweet, And thou hear'st my coming feet, - Then - thou then - mayst heed me!
Charles Swain [1801-1874]
ARE THEY NOT ALL MINISTERING SPIRITS?
We see them not - we cannot hear The music of their wing - Yet know we that they sojourn near, The Angels of the spring!
They glide along this lovely ground When the first violet grows; Their graceful hands have just unbound The zone of yonder rose.
I gather it for thy dear breast, From stain and shadow free: That which an Angel's touch hath blest Is meet, my love, for thee!
Robert Stephen Hawker [1803-1875]
MAIDEN EYES
You never bade me hope, 'tis true; I asked you not to swear: But I looked in those eyes of blue, And read a promise there.
The vow should bind, with maiden sighs That maiden lips have spoken: But that which looks from maiden eyes Should last of all be broken.
Gerald Griffin [1803-1840]
HALLOWED PLACES
I pass my days among the quiet places Made sacred by your feet. The air is cool in the fresh woodland spaces, The meadows very sweet.
The sunset fills the wide sky with its splendor, The glad birds greet the night; I stop and listen for a voice strong, tender, I wait those dear eyes' light.
You are the heart of every gleam of glory, Your presence fills the air, About you gathers all the fair year's story; I read you everywhere.
Alice Freeman Palmer [1855-1902]
THE LADY'S "YES"
"Yes," I answered you last night; "No," this morning, sir, I say: Colors seen by candle-light Will not look the same by day.
When the viols played their best, Lamps above, and laughs below, Love me sounded like a jest, Fit for yes or fit for no.
Call me false or call me free, Vow, whatever light may shine, - No man on your face shall see Any grief for change on mine.
Yet the sin is on us both; Time to dance is not to woo; Wooing light makes fickle troth, Scorn of me recoils on you.
Learn to win a lady's faith Nobly, as the thing is high, Bravely, as for life and death, With a loyal gravity.
Lead her from the festive boards, Point her to the starry skies, Guard her, by your truthful words, Pure from courtship's flatteries.
By your truth she shall be true, Ever true, as wives of yore; And her yes, once said to you, SHALL be Yes for evermore.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning [1806-1861]
SONG From "The Miller's Daughter"
It is the miller's daughter, And she is grown so dear, so dear, That I would be the jewel That trembles in her ear; For hid in ringlets day and night, I'd touch her neck so warm and white.
And I would be the girdle About her dainty, dainty waist, And her heart would beat against me, In sorrow and in rest; And I should know if it beat right, I'd clasp it round so close and tight.
And I would be the necklace, And all day long to fall and rise Upon her balmy bosom With her laughter or her sighs; And I would lie so light, so light, I scarce should be unclasped at night.
Alfred Tennyson [1809-1892]
LILIAN
Airy, fairy Lilian, Flitting, fairy Lilian, When I ask her if she love me, Clasps her tiny hand above me, Laughing all she can; She'll not tell me if she love me, Cruel little Lilian.