The First Wife

A poem by Violet Nicolson, Lawrence Hope, Adela Florence Cory Nicolson (1865 – 1904)

Ah, my lord, are the tidings true,

That thy mother’s jewels are shapen anew?

I hear that a bride has chosen been,

The stars consulted, the parents seen.

Had I been childless, had never there smiled

The brilliant eyes from the face of a child,

Then at least I had understood

This thing they tell me thou findest good.

But I have been down to the River of Death,

With painful footsteps and shuddering breath,

Seven times; thou hast daughters three,

And four young sons who are fair as thee.

I am not unlovely, over my head

Not twenty summers as yet have sped.

‘T is eleven years since my opening life

Was given to thee by my father’s wife.

Ah, those days–They were lovely to me,

When little and shy I waited for thee.

Till I locked my arms round my lover above,

A child in form but a woman in love.

And I bore thy sons, as a woman should,

Year by year, as is meet and good.

Thy mother was ever content with me–

And Oh, Beloved, I worshipped thee!

And now it’s over; alas, my lord,

Better I felt thy sharpest sword.

I hear she is youthful and fair as I

When I came to thee in the days gone by.

Her breasts are firmer; this bosom slips

Somewhat, weighted by children’s lips.

But they were thy children. Oh, lord my king,

Ah, why hast thy heart devised this thing ?

I am not as the women of this thy land,

Meek and timid, broken to hand.

From the distant North I was given to thee,

Whose daughters are passionate, fierce and free,

I could not dwell by a rival’s side,

I seek a bridegroom, as thou a bride.

The night she yieldeth her youth to thee,

Death shall take his pleasure in me.

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• Atalanta’s Race by William Morris by William Morris
• A Good Knight In Prison by William Morris by William Morris
• A Death Song by William Morris by William Morris
• We embraced and talked about rains by Vinko Kalinic by Poetry In English
• Twins by Vinko Kalinić by Poetry In English
• To a friend by Vinko Kalinić by Poetry In English
• Those seven days by Vinaya Kumar Hanumanthappa by Poetry In English
• The face wanted by Vinko Kalinić by Poetry In English
• The Boy by Vinko Kalinić by Poetry In English
• Summer We Called Home by Vinita Agrawal by Poetry In English
• Story of a Drunk by Violet Uram by Poetry In English
• Sometimes by Vinko Kalinić by Poetry In English
• See, how I love you by Vinko Kalinić by Poetry In English
• Sea God and the wind rose by Vinko Kalinić by Poetry In English
• Respect her by Vinaya Kumar Hanumanthappa by Poetry In English
• Requiem for Two by Vinko Kalinić by Poetry In English
• Raw Silk by Vinita Agrawal by Poetry In English
• Raise the head, child by Vinko Kalinić by Poetry In English
• Pure call of the wilderness by Vinko Kalinic by Poetry In English
• Pigeon Haiku by Violet Uram by Poetry In English

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