Poems (Schiller)/A love song
For works with similar titles, see A love song.
A LOVE SONG[Written for the Pestalozzi Literary Society of Baltimore, and respectfully dedicated to Miss Jennie Wilson.]
The moon rose up at ten last night,And peered above yon mountain height,Flooding the river at its feetWith amber glory, calm and sweet;And restless birdies, wide awake,Kept twittering in the neighb'ring brake,Low telling to their listening wivesThe thoughts and dreams of their bird-lives,As if such nights were made, forsooth!For birds to chat, and not in truthFor them to nestle down and sleepTill bright Aurora bids them peep.
We met down on the sandy beachAs we had promised each to eachOur dainty bark was soon untied,And pushed off from the river side. Slowly we drifted down the stream,Wrapped in the bliss of love's first dreamAnd the fair moon above perchance,In bending earthward her bright glance,Caught the warm gleam within our eyes,And heard the fond, low-voiced repliesOf heart to heart, as on my handWas slipped love's slender golden band.O, tell me, radiant amber moon,And tell me, joyous night of June,If any heart in the wide earthFound in your reign so glad a birthOf joy and peace, as did mine ownWhen last night's stars so softly shone?
To-night an hour after tenThe amber moon will rise again,But many, many miles, I ween,Will stretch their weary length betweenMy love and me; but one bright rayGleams through the shadow which doth layUpon my heart, for ere the moon Illumes a night of next year's June,He will return, my hand to claim,And give me for my own, his name.O! then, dull Time, speed swiftly on,And haste the hour of his return.June, 1870.