Page:Poems Holley.djvu/58

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LITTLE NELL.
Clasp your arms round her neck to-night,
    Little Nell,
Arms so delicate, soft and white,
And yet so strong in love's strange might;
Clasp them around the kneeling form,
Fold them tenderly close and warm,
    And who can tell
But such slight links may draw her back,
Away from the fatal, fatal track:
    Who can tell,
    Little Nell?

Press your lips to the lips of snow,
    Little Nell;
Oh baby heart, may you never know
The anguish that makes them quiver so;
But now in her weakness and mortal pain,
Let your kisses fall like a dewy rain,
    And who can tell
But your innocent love, your childish kiss
May lure her back from the dread abyss;
    Who can tell,
    Little Nell.