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The sentence of exile might be repealed-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 

• Ольга Берггольц – Бабье лето (надо любить, жалеть, прощать) by Ольга Берггольц
• Ольга Берггольц – Анна Ахматова в 1941 году в Ленинграде by Ольга Берггольц
• Ольга Берггольц – А помнишь by Ольга Берггольц
• Ольга Берггольц – 27 января 1945 года by Ольга Берггольц
• Олег Широв – Она бесценна, просто ангел by Поэзия На Русском
• Олег Сердобольский – Зимний кот by Поэзия На Русском
• Олег Сердобольский – Задумал слово я такое by Поэзия На Русском
• Олег Сердобольский – Храбрый червячок by Поэзия На Русском
• Олег Сердобольский – Воробышек и крошки by Поэзия На Русском
• Олег Сердобольский – Во дворе by Поэзия На Русском
• Олег Сердобольский – Угадай, в какой руке by Поэзия На Русском
• Олег Сердобольский – У сосульки льет из носа by Поэзия На Русском
• Олег Сердобольский – Стой, кто идет by Поэзия На Русском
• Олег Сердобольский – Птенчик by Поэзия На Русском
• Олег Сердобольский – Пришли цыплята в первый класс by Поэзия На Русском
• Олег Сердобольский – Перемена by Поэзия На Русском
• Олег Сердобольский – Облачко by Поэзия На Русском
• Олег Сердобольский – Мошка Машка by Поэзия На Русском
• Олег Сердобольский – Кузнечик by Поэзия На Русском
• Олег Сердобольский – Корова и божья коровка by Поэзия На Русском

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