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The sun shines fair on Tweedside； the river flowing bright；
Your heart is full of pleasure； your eyes are full of light；
Your cheeks are like the morning； your pearls are like the dew；
Or morning and her dew…drops are like your pearls and you。
Because you are a princess； a princess of the land；
You will not turn your lightsome eyes a moment where I stand；
A poor unnoticed poet； a…making of his rhymes；
But I have found a mistress； more fair a thousand times。
‘Tis May； the elfish maiden； the daughter of the Spring；
Upon whose birthday morning the birds delight to sing。
They would not sing one note for you； if you should so command；
Although you are a princess； a princess of the land。
SONG IS NOT DEAD
Song is not dead； although to…day
Men tell us everything is said。
There yet is something left to say；
Song is not dead。
While still the evening sky is red；
While still the morning gold and grey；
While still the autumn leaves are shed；
While still the heart of youth is gay；
And honour crowns the hoary head；
While men and women love and pray
Song is not dead。
A SONG OF TRUCE
Till the tread of marching feet
Through the quiet grass…grown street
Of the little town shall come；
Soldier； rest awhile at home。
While the banners idly hang；
While the bugles do not clang；
While is hushed the clamorous drum；
Soldier； rest awhile at home。
In the breathing…time of Death；
While the sword is in its sheath；
While the cannon's mouth is dumb；
Soldier； rest awhile at home。
Not too long the rest shall be。
Soon enough； to Death and thee；
The assembly call shall come。
Soldier； rest awhile at home。
ONE TEAR
Last night； when at parting
Awhile we did stand；
Suddenly starting；
There fell on my hand
Something that burned it；
Something that shone
In the moon as I turned it；
And then it was gone。
One bright stray jewel …
What made it stray？
Was I cold or cruel；
At the close of day？
Oh； do not cry； lass！
What is crying worth？
There is no lass like my lass
In the whole wide earth。
A LOVER'S CONFESSION
When people tell me they have loved
But once in youth；
I wonder； are they always moved
To speak the truth？
Not that they wilfully deceive：
They fondly cherish
A constancy which they would grieve
To think might perish。
They cherish it until they think
‘Twas always theirs。
So； if the truth they sometimes blink；
‘Tis unawares。
Yet unawares； I must profess；
They do deceive
Themselves； and those who questionless
Their tale believe。
For I have loved； I freely own；
A score of times；
And woven； out of love alone；
A hundred rhymes。
Boys will be fickle。 Yet； when all
Is said and done；
I was not one whom you could call
A flirtnot one
Of those who into three or four
Their hearts divide。
My queens came singly to the door；
Not side by side。
Each； while she reigned； possessed alone
My spirit loyal；
Then left an undisputed throne
To one more royal；
To one more fair in form and face
Sweeter and stronger；
Who filled the throne with truer grace；
And filled it longer。
So； love by love； they came and passed；
These loves of mine；
And each one brighter than the last
Their lights did shine。
Untilbut am I not too free；
Most courteous stranger；
With secrets which belong to me？
There is a danger。
Until； I say； the perfect love；
The last； the best；
Like flame descending from above；
Kindled my breast；
Kindled my breast like ardent flame；
With quenchless glow。
I knew not love until it came；
But now I know。
You smile。 The twenty loves before
Were each in turn；
You say； the final flame that o'er
My soul should burn。
Smile on； my friend。 I will not say
You have no reason；
But if the love I feel to…day
Depart； ‘tis treason！
If this depart； not once again
Will I on paper
Declare the loves that waste and wane；
Like some poor taper。
No； no！ This flame； I cannot doubt；
Despite your laughter；
Will burn till Death shall put it out；
And may be after。
TRAFALGAR SQUARE
These verses have I pilfered like a bee
Out of a letter from my C。 C。 C。
In London； showing what befell him there；
With other things； of interest to me。
One page described a night in open air
He spent last summer in Trafalgar Square；
With men and women who by want are driven
Thither for lodging； when the nights are fair。
No roof there is between their heads and heaven；
No warmth but what by ragged clothes is given；
No comfort but the company of those
Who with despair； like them； have vainly striven。
On benches there uneasily they doze；
Snatching brief morsels of a poor repose；
And if through weariness they might sleep sound；
Their eyes must open almost ere they close。
With even tramp upon the paven ground；
Twice every hour the night patrol comes round
To clear these wretches off； who may not keep
The miserable couches they have found。
Yet the stern shepherds of the poor black sheep
Will soften when they see a woman weep。
There was a mother there who strove in vain；
With sobs； to hush a starving child to sleep。
And through the night which took so long to wane；
He saw sad sufferers relieving pain；
And daughters of iniquity and scorn
Performing deeds which God will not disdain。
There was a girl； forlorn of the forlorn；
Whose dress was white； but draggled； soiled； and torn；
Who wandered like a ghost without a home。
She spoke to him before the day was born。
She； who all night； when spoken to； was dumb；
Earning dislike from most； abuse from some；
Now asked the hour； and when he told her ‘Two；'
Wailed； ‘O my God； will daylight never come？'
Yes； it will come； and change the sky anew
From star…besprinkled black to sunlit blue；
And bring sweet thoughts and innocent desires
To countless girls。 What will it bring to you？
A SUMMER MORNING
Never was sun so bright before；
No matin of the lark so sweet；
No grass so green beneath my feet；
Nor with such dewdrops jewelled o'er。
I stand with thee outside the door；
The air not yet is close with heat；
And far across the yellowing wheat
The waves are breaking on the shore。
A lovely day！ Yet many such；
Each like to each； this month have passed；
And none did so supremely shine。
One thing they lacked： the perfect touch
Of theeand thou art come at last；
And half this loveliness is thine。
WELCOME HOME
The fire burns bright
And the hearth is clean swept；
As she likes it kept；
And the lamp is alight。
She is coming to…night。
The wind's east of late。
When she comes； she'll be cold；
So the big chair is rolled
Close up to the grate；
And I list