Poems (Edwards)/For A— L—, To his Lady-Love

by Matilda Caroline Smiley Edwards

FOR A——— L———, TO HIS LADY-LOVE.

O! if I were a blossom,
 I would bloom upon thy way,
I'd touch thy flowing mantle
 With my lips so soft and gay;
I would hang upon thy bosom,
 I would press my cheek to thine,
And thy balmy breath should mingle
 Its soft perfume with mine;
And with thy slender fingers,
 Thou would'st twine me in thy hair,
Then I'd hide among thy ringlets
 And sleep in silence there.

Or,—if I were a zephyr,
 A balmy zephyr now,
I would brush aside the ringlets
 That cluster on thy brow;
I would search the orange blossoms,
 I would sweep the citron tree,
And gather up sweet fragrance,
 To sacrifice to thee;
And with my downy pinions,
 I would fan thy cheek of snow,
Till thy rosy lips should bless me,
 Wherever I might go.

Or,—if I were a lute-string,
 Or a music-breathing bird,
My songs should always 'round thee,
 By day and night be heard;
I would perch upon thy pillow,
 When thine eyes were closed in sleep,
And my wings with dew-drops shining,
 O'er thy lovely brow I'd sweep;
And I'd glide around thee daily
 With my heart-hymns soft and free,
O! if I were a song-bird,
 How much I'd sing for thee.

Or,—if I were a sunbeam,
 I would brighten all thy way,
And not one dark'ning shadow
 Should o'er thy bosom stray;
I would nestle on thy forehead,
 I would flit among thy curls,
Till every hair of thine should look
 As if 'twere strung with pearls;
I would chase all darkness from thee,
 I would make thee glad and gay,
And I'd wake the brightest blossoms,
 To sparkle on thy way.

But if I were an angel,
 I would do all blessed things,
I'd flit about thee all day long,
 And fan thee with my wings;
I would keep thee in all places,
 I would guard thee night and day,
And nought should harm thy spirit,
 Or take thy peace away:
And in death, I'd hover near thee
 With deep unchanging love,
And I'd bear thee on my pinions,
 To the "better land" above.