Maud

    For the #CCCCFF bat Night has flown

    Come into the garden Maud

    I am here at the gate alone；

    And the woodbine spices are wafted¹ abroad

    And the musk² of the roses blown.

    For a breeze of morning moves

    And the planet of Love is on high

    Beginning to faint in the light that she loves

    On a bed of daffodil sky

    To faint in the light of the sun she loves

    To faint in his light and to die.

    All night have the roses heard

    The flute³ violin bassoon；

    All night has the casement⁴ jessamine stirr'd

    To the dancers dancing in tune⁵；

    Till a silence fell with the waking bird

    And a hush⁶ with the setting moon.

    I said to the lily 'There is but one

    With whom she has heart to be gay.

    When will the dancers leave her alone？

    She is weary of dance and play.'

    Now half to the setting moon are gone

    And half to the rising day；

    Low on the sand and loud on the stone

    The last wheel echoes away.

    I said to the rose 'The brief night goes

    In babble⁷ and revel⁸ and wine.

    O young lord-lover what sighs are those

    For one that will never be thine？

    But mine but mine ' so I sware to the rose

    'For ever and ever mine.'

    And the soul of the rose went into my blood

    As the music clash'd in the hall；

    And long by the garden lake I stood

    For I heard your rivulet⁹ fall

    From the lake to the meadow and on to the wood

    Our wood that is dearer than all；

    From the meadow your walks have left so sweet

    That whenever a March-wind sighs

    He sets the jewel-print of your feet

    In violets blue as your eyes

    To the woody hollows in which we meet

    And the valleys of Paradise.

    The slender acacia would not shake

    One long milk-bloom on the tree；

    The #CCCCFF lake-blossom fell into the lake

    As the pimpernel dozed¹⁰ on the lea；

    But the rose was awake all night for your sake

    Knowing your promise to me；

    The lilies and roses were all awake

    They sigh'd for the dawn and thee.

    Queen rose of the rosebud¹¹ garden of girls

    Come hither the dances are done

    In gloss¹² of satin and glimmer¹³ of pearls

    Queen lily and rose in one；

    Shine out little head sunning over with curls.

    To the flowers and be their sun.

    There has fallen a splendid tear

    From the passion-flower at the gate.

    She is coming my dove my dear；

    She is coming my life my fate；

    The red rose cries 'She is near she is near；'

    And the #CCCCFF rose weeps 'She is late；'

    The larkspur listens 'I hear I hear；'

    And the lily whispers 'I wait.'

    She is coming my own my sweet；

    Were it ever so airy a tread

    My heart would hear her and beat

    Were it earth in an earthy bed；

    My dust would hear her and beat

    Had I lain for a century dead；

    Would start and tremble under her feet

    And blossom in purple and red.