Textarchiv - Mary Elizabeth Coleridge

When My Love Did What I Would Not, What I Would Not

mrbot — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 21:43:49 +0000

When my love did what I would not, what I would not,
I could hear his merry voice upon the wind,
Crying, "Fairest, shut your eyes, for see you should not.
Love is blind!"

When my love said what I say not, what I say not,
With a joyous laugh he quieted my fears,
Whispering, "Fairest, hearken not, for hear you may not.
Hath Love ears?"

When my love said, "Will you longer let me seek it?
Blind and deaf is she that doth not bid me come!"
All my heart said murmuring, "Dearest, can I speak it?
Love is dumb!

Mary Elizabeth Coleridge

After St. Augustine

mrbot — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 21:43:49 +0000

Sunshine let it be or frost,
Storm or calm, as Thou shalt choose;
Though Thine every gift were lost,
Thee Thyself we could not lose.

Mary Elizabeth Coleridge

I Ask Of Thee, Love, Nothing But Relief

mrbot — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 21:43:49 +0000

I ask of thee, love, nothing but relief.
Thou canst not bring the old days back again;
For I was happy then,
Not knowing heavenly joy, not knowing grief.

Mary Elizabeth Coleridge

L'Oiseau Bleu

mrbot — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 21:43:49 +0000

The lake lay blue below the hill.
O'er it, as I looked, there flew
Across the waters, cold and still,
A bird whose wings were palest blue.

The sky above was blue at last,
The sky beneath me blue in blue.
A moment, ere the bird had passed,
It caught his image as he flew.

Mary Elizabeth Coleridge

An Insincere Wish Addressed To A Beggar

mrbot — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 21:43:49 +0000

We are not near enough to love,
I can but pity all your woe;
For wealth has lifted me above,
And falsehood set you down below.

If you were true, we still might be
Brothers in something more than name;
And were I poor, your love to me
Would make our differing bonds the same.

But golden gates between us stretch,
Truth opens her forbidding eyes;
You can't forget that I am rich,
Nor I that you are telling lies.

Love never comes but at love's call,
And pity asks for him in vain;
Because I cannot give you all,
You give me nothing back again.

And you are right with all your wrong,
For less than all is nothing too;
May Heaven beggar me ere long,
And Truth reveal herself to you!

Mary Elizabeth Coleridge

Good Friday In My Heart

mrbot — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 21:43:49 +0000

Good Friday in my heart! Fear and affright!
My thoughts are the Disciples when they fled,
My words the words that priest and soldier said,
My deed the spear to desecrate the dead.
And day, Thy death therein, is changed to night.

Then Easter in my heart sends up the sun.
My thoughts are Mary, when she turned to see.
My words are Peter, answering, ‘Lov’st thou Me?’
My deeds are all Thine own drawn close to Thee,
And night and day, since Thou dost rise, are one.

Mary Elizabeth Coleridge

Where A Roman Villa Stood, Above Freiburg

mrbot — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 21:43:49 +0000

On alien ground, breathing an alien air,
A Roman stood, far from his ancient home,
And gazing, murmured,
'Ah, the hills are fair, But not the hills of Rome!'

Descendant of a race to Romans-kin,
Where the old son of Empire stood, I stand.
The self-same rocks fold the same valley in,
Untouched of human hand.

Over another shines the self-same star,
Another heart with nameless longing fills,
Crying aloud, 'How beautiful they are,
But not our English hills!'

Mary Elizabeth Coleridge

Street Lanterns

mrbot — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 21:43:49 +0000

Country roads are yellow and brown.
We mend the roads in London Town.

Never a hansom dare come nigh,
Never a cart goes rolling by.

An unwonted silence steals
In between the turning wheels.

Quickly ends the autumn day,
And the workman goes his way,

Leaving, midst the traffic rude,
One small isle of solitude,

Lit, throughout the lengthy night,
By the little lantern's light.

Jewels of the dark have we,
Brighter than the rustic's be.

Over the dull earth are thrown
Topaz, and the ruby stone.

Mary Elizabeth Coleridge

1920

Blue and White

mrbot — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 21:43:49 +0000

Blue is Our Lady's colour,
White is Our Lord's
To-morrow I will wear a knot
Of blue and white cords,
That you may see it, where you ride
Among the flashing swords.

O banner, white and sunny blue,
With prayer I wove thee!
For love the white, for faith the heavenly hue,
And both for him, so tender-true,
Him that doth love me!

Mary Elizabeth Coleridge

Larghetto

mrbot — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 21:43:49 +0000

Grant me but a day, love,
But a day,
Ere I give my heart,
My heart away,
Ere I say the word
I'll ne'er unsay.

Is it earnest with me?
Is it play?
Did the world in arms
Cry to me, "Stay!"
Not a moment then
Would I delay.

Yet, for very love,
I say thee nay.
Ere I give my heart,
My heart away,
Grant me but a day, love,
But a day!

Mary Elizabeth Coleridge