Poems (Craik)/Between Two Worlds

by Dinah Maria Craik

For works with similar titles, see Between Two Worlds.

BETWEEN TWO WORLDS.

Parting for Australia.

ERE sitting by the fire
I aspire, love, I aspire—
Not to that "other world" of your fond dreams,
  But one as nigh and nigher,
Compared to which your real, unreal seems.

  Together as to-night
  In our light, love, in our light
Of reunited joy appears no shade:
  From this our hope's reached height
All things are possible and level made.

  Therefore we sit and view—
  I and you, love, I and you—
That wondrous valley o'er southern seas,
  Where in a country new
You will make for me a sweet nest of ease;

  Where I, your poor tired bird,
  (Nothing stirred? Love, nothing stirred?)
May fold her wings and be no more distrest:
  Where troubles may be heard
Like outside winds at night which deepen rest.

  Where in green pastures wide
  We 'll abide, love, we 'll abide,
And keep content our patriarchal flocks,
  Till at our aged side
Leap our young brown-faced shepherds of the rocks.

  Ah, tale that 's easy told!
  (Hold my hand, love, tighter hold.)
What if this face of mine, which you think fair—
  If it should ne'er grow old,
Nor matron cap cover this maiden hair?

  What if this silver ring
  (Loose it clings, love, yet does cling:)
Should ne'er be changed for any other? nay,
  This very hand I fling
About your neck should—Hush! to-day's to- day:

  To-morrow is—ah, whose?
  You 'll not lose, love, you 'll not lose
This hand I pledged, if never a wife's hand
  For tender household use
Led by yours fearless into a far, far land.

  Kiss me and do not grieve;
  I believe, love, I believe
That He who holds the measure of our days,
  And did thus strangely weave
Our opposite lives together, to His praise—

  He never will divide
  Us so wide, love, us so wide:
But will, whatever befalls us, clearly show
  That those in Him allied
In life or death are nearer than they know.