The Old Maids Story

Ay, many and many a year’s gone by,

Since the dawn of that day in spring,

When we met in the pine-woods, Harry and I,

And he gave me this golden ring.

I had lovers in plenty, of high degree,

Who wooed in my father’s hall;

But none were so noble and brave as he,

Though he was the scorn’d of all.

On the soft, green grass, where the shadows lay,

All fleck’d with the sun and dew,

With a ring and a kiss did we seal, that day,

Our vow to be leal and true.

‘Twas a life-long vow;-but they did not know-

And they thought not of love or pain;-

We met just once in the sleet and snow-

We were never to meet again!

He was sent away o’er the blank, wide sea,

And I, with my hopes and fears,

Had never a message to comfort me

For over a score of years.

They laugh’d at my heart, they paraded my hand,

But I answer’d them, cold and grim-

“If Harry ne’er comes to his native land,

They shall only belong to him.”

At last came a tale from the battle-field;-

And they were not scornful now.

The sentence of exile might be repealed-

They would honour our plighted vow!

They told how my Harry, like olden knights,

Had fought for his land and Queen;

Fought hard and well on the Alma heights,

Where the deadliest strife was seen.

They told how he fell in the fire and smoke,

And they gave me his things to keep;

They wonder’d why I never cried or spoke,-

But it was too late to weep.

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Poems in English 

• An Elegy On The Death Of A Mad Dog by Oliver Goldsmith by Poetry In English
• Absolute Divine by Nithin Purple by Poetry In English
• A Sculptor’s Vow by Nikhil Srinivas by Poetry In English
• A woman’s desire by Oriada Dajko by Poetry In English
• The Deserted Village by Oliver Goldsmith by Oliver Goldsmith
• Poetic Abbreviations, Poetry Abbreviations by Fledermaus
• I Remember, I Remember by Philip Larkin by Philip Larkin
• How Distant by Philip Larkin by Philip Larkin
• Home Is So Sad by Philip Larkin by Philip Larkin
• Homage To A Government by Philip Larkin by Philip Larkin
• High Windows by Philip Larkin by Philip Larkin
• He Hears That His Beloved Has Become Engaged by Philip Larkin by Philip Larkin
• Grief by Philip Larkin by Philip Larkin
• Going by Philip Larkin by Philip Larkin
• Friday Night At The Royal Station Hotel by Philip Larkin by Philip Larkin
• For Sidney Bechet by Philip Larkin by Philip Larkin
• First Sight by Philip Larkin by Philip Larkin
• Far Out by Philip Larkin by Philip Larkin
• Faith Healing by Philip Larkin by Philip Larkin
• Essential Beauty by Philip Larkin by Philip Larkin

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