Poems (Curwen)/At Hymen's Gates

by Annie Isabel Curwen

At Hymen's Gates,

On the Marriage of Princess Maud of Wales.

Adown Love's rose-strewn path she trips
 'Neath Summer's sunny skies,
With blushing cheeks, and smiling lips,
 And happy love-lit eyes,
Towards those mystic golden gates
 Entrance to Hymen's bowers,
Where her true love her coming waits
 Among the nodding flowers.

The roses smile to see her pass,
 The song birds sweetly sing,
As her light feet trip o'er the grass
 In haste to greet her king,
Her lord, who with impatience waits
 To clasp her little hand,
And lead her through the golden gates
 To love's enchanted land.

One fleeting backward glance she throws
 Upon the dear old life,
As Hymen's mystic gates unclose
 In welcome to the wife.
The blushing rose her cheeks forsake,
 Her sunny eyes grow dim,
But she dares all for love's sweet sake,
 And enters in with him.
love is strong! for it can break
 All other tender ties;
O love is sweet! for it doth make
 This world a paradise;
'Tis the acme of human bliss,
 The poetry of life;
God grant thee such sweet love as this,
 To bless thee, happy wife!