A Ballad of the Heart’s Bounty
By Laurence Alma Tadema
« \ That shines at my window out there in the night ? ”
V V Said she then : “For you is the Lamp that I bear . .
But his pillow was bright with the mist of gold hair,
And he answered : “ I have my light.”
“ Who stands at my door on the edge of the mere ? ”
Said she then : “The Jewel I bring is for you . .
But his cheek touched the lashes, the veiled eyes were blue,
And he answered : “ My gems are here.”
“ Who sings in the dark when the woods are mute ? ”
Said she then : “ This Music is yours to keep . . .”
But sweet is the sound of low laughter in sleep,
And he answered : “ I need no lute.”
At New Day he rose, for the bed’s warmth was gone,
But Death had smiled first in the face that he sought . . .
Her white fingers yielded the gifts she had brought,
And he fled to the hills alone.
By Laurence Alma Tadema
« \ That shines at my window out there in the night ? ”
V V Said she then : “For you is the Lamp that I bear . .
But his pillow was bright with the mist of gold hair,
And he answered : “ I have my light.”
“ Who stands at my door on the edge of the mere ? ”
Said she then : “The Jewel I bring is for you . .
But his cheek touched the lashes, the veiled eyes were blue,
And he answered : “ My gems are here.”
“ Who sings in the dark when the woods are mute ? ”
Said she then : “ This Music is yours to keep . . .”
But sweet is the sound of low laughter in sleep,
And he answered : “ I need no lute.”
At New Day he rose, for the bed’s warmth was gone,
But Death had smiled first in the face that he sought . . .
Her white fingers yielded the gifts she had brought,
And he fled to the hills alone.