Poems (Osgood)/A Song (Braid not the jewel)

by Frances Sargent Osgood

For works with similar titles, see A Song.

A SONG.

Braid not the jewel,
 Love, in thy hair!
For such adornment
 Thou art too fair.

Suits not the diamond
 Tresses so light,
Floating like golden mist,
 Changefully bright.

Weave its wild lustre
 Thro' the dark braids,
Whose raven cluster
 Helen's eye shades!

There will its splendor
 Fittingly play;
Thou art too tender
 For such array.

Take this white rose, love,
 Stainless as thou,
Let it repose, love,
 By thy fair brow!

And as its fragrance
 Softly steals by,
Sweet as thy balmy breath,
 Pure as thy sigh,

Think of the lover,
 In whose food sight,
No gem of Ophir
 Makes thee more bright!