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