BRIDE SONG
by: Christina Rossetti
(1830-1894)
- OO late for love, too late for
joy,
- Too late, too late!
- You loitered on the road too long,
- You trifled at the gate:
- The enchanted dove upon her branch
- Died without a mate;
- The enchanted princess in her tower
- Slept, died, behind the grate;
- Her heart was starving all this while
- You made it wait.
-
- Ten years ago, five years ago,
- One year ago,
- Even then you had arrived in time,
- Though somewhat slow;
- Then you had known her living face
- Which now you cannot know:
- The frozen fountain would have leaped,
- The buds gone on to blow,
- The warm south wind would have awaked
- To melt the snow.
-
- Is she fair now as she lies?
- Once she was fair;
- Meet queen for any kingly king,
- With gold-dust on her hair,
- Now these are poppies in her locks,
- White poppies she must wear;
- Must wear a veil to shroud her face
- And the want graven there:
- Or is the hunger fed at length,
- Cast off the care?
-
- We never saw her with a smile
- Or with a frown;
- Her bed seemed never soft to her,
- Though tossed of down;
- She little heeded what she wore,
- Kirtle, or wreath, or gown;
- We think her white brows often ached
- Beneath her crown,
- Till silvery hairs showed in her locks
- That used to be so brown.
-
- We never heard her speak in haste;
- Her tones were sweet,
- And modulated just so much
- As it was meet:
- Her heart sat silent through the noise
- And concourse of the street.
- There was no hurry in her hands,
- No hurry in her feet;
- There was no bliss drew nigh to her,
- That she might run to greet.
-
- You should have wept her yesterday,
- Wasting upon her bed:
- But wherefore should you weep today
- That she is dead?
- Lo we who love weep not today,
- But crown her royal head.
- Let be these poppies that we strew,
- Your roses are too red:
- Let be these poppies, not for you
- Cut down and spread.
"Bride Song" is reprinted
from Goblin market, The prince's progress and other poems.
Christina Rosetti. London: Macmillan 1879. |
MORE POEMS BY CHRISTINA ROSSETTI |
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