THE RAVEN

Before the battle joined that day
Steingrim a word to him did say: 
“If we bring the banner back in peace,
In the King’s house much shall my fame increase;
Till there no guarded door shall be
But it shall open straight to me. 
Then to the bower we twain shall go
Where thy love the golden seam doth sew. 
I shall bring thee in and lay thine hand
About the neck of that lily-wand. 
And let the King be lief or loth
One bed that night shall hold you both.” 
Now north belike runs Steingrim’s prow,
And the rain and the wind from the south do blow.

THE KING’S DAUGHTER

Lo, fowl of death, my mother’s ring, But the bridal song I must learn to sing.  And fain were I for a space alone, For O the wind, and the wind doth moan.  And I must array the bridal bed, Fair summer is on many a shield. For O the rain, and the rain drifts red! Fair sing the swans ’twixt firth and field.

Before the day from the night was born, Fair summer is on many a shield. She heard the blast of Steingrim’s horn, Fair sing the swans ’twixt firth and field. Before the day was waxen fair Were Steingrim’s feet upon the stair.  “O bolt and bar they fall away, But heavy are Steingrim’s feet to-day.”  “O heavy the feet of one who bears The longing of days and the grief of years!  Lie down, lie down, thou lily-wand That on thy neck I may lay his hand.  Whether the King be lief or loth To-day one bed shall hold you both.  O thou art still as he is still, So sore as ye longed to talk your fill And good it were that I depart, Now heart is laid so close to heart.  For sure ye shall talk so left alone Fair summer is on many a shield. Of days to be below the stone.” Fair sing the swans ’twixt firth and field.

SPRING’S BEDFELLOW

Spring went about the woods to-day,
The soft-foot winter-thief,
And found where idle sorrow lay
’Twixt flower and faded leaf.

She looked on him, and found him fair
For all she had been told;
She knelt adown beside him there,
And sang of days of old.

His open eyes beheld her nought,
Yet ’gan his lips to move;
But life and deeds were in her thought,
And he would sing of love.

So sang they till their eyes did meet,
And faded fear and shame;
More bold he grew, and she more sweet,
Until they sang the same.

Until, say they who know the thing,
Their very lips did kiss,
And Sorrow laid abed with Spring
Begat an earthly bliss.

MEETING IN WINTER

Winter in the world it is,
Round about the unhoped kiss
Whose dream I long have sorrowed o’er;
Round about the longing sore,
That the touch of thee shall turn
Into joy too deep to burn.