Poems (Rossetti, 1901)/A Fisher-Wife
A FISHER-WIFE.
THE soonest mended, nothing said;
And help may rise from east or west
But my two hands are lumps of lead,
My heart sits leaden in my breast.
And help may rise from east or west
But my two hands are lumps of lead,
My heart sits leaden in my breast.
O north wind swoop not from the north,
O south wind linger in the south,
Oh come not raving raging forth,
To bring my heart into my mouth;
O south wind linger in the south,
Oh come not raving raging forth,
To bring my heart into my mouth;
For I've a husband out at sea,
Afloat on feeble planks of wood;
He does not know what fear may be;
I would have told him if I could.
Afloat on feeble planks of wood;
He does not know what fear may be;
I would have told him if I could.
I would have locked him in my arms,
I would have hid him in my heart;
For oh! the waves are fraught with harms.
And he and I so far apart.
I would have hid him in my heart;
For oh! the waves are fraught with harms.
And he and I so far apart.