Pebbles and Shells (Hawkes collection)/To My Lady Sleeping
TO MY LADY SLEEPING
How fair, how tranquil is my lady's pose—Upon her pillow, wrapped in peaceful dreams,Hardly a thing of earth or life she seems,Her lips half parted like a budding rose;And o'er her couch one golden ringlet flows,The rest across her pillow wildly streams,And in the silver moonlight glints and gleamsLike evening sunlight on eternal snows;And with each breath that softly comes and goesI see the hand upon her virgin breastRise quickly up then slowly sink to rest—And now she smiles in innocent repose—O! tell me stars, or wind that softly blows,Is it for me that smile like heaven glows?