Lost and found

I was going to clean out the bookshelf that I share with Farah (she's complaining she's running out of shelf space) when I chanced upon "Victorian Verse", an old book which I used to study for my GCE 'A' English Literature exam.

As I thumbed the yellowed pages of the book, I saw this lovely poem, by Lord De Tabley:

Nuptial Song
'Sigh, heart, break not'

Sigh, heart, and break not; rest, lark and wake not!
Day I hear coming to draw my Love away.
As mere-waves whisper, and clouds grow crisper,
Ah, like a rose he will waken up with day.

In moon-light lonely, he is my Love only,
I share with none when Luna rides in grey.
As dawn-beams quicken, my rivals thicken,
The light and deed and turmoil of the day.

To watch my sleeper to me is sweeter,
Than any waking words my love can say;
In dream he finds me and closer winds me!
Let him rest by me a little more and stay.

Ah, mine eyes, close not; and, tho' he knows not,
My lips, on his be tender while you may;
Ere leaves are shaken, and ring-doves waken,
And infant buds begin to scent new day.

Fair Darkness, measure thine hours, as treasure
Shed each one slowly from thine urn, I pray;
Hoard in and cover each from my lover;
I cannot lose him yet; dear night, delay.

Each moment dearer, true-love, lie nearer,
My hair shall blind thee lest thou see the ray;
My locks encumber thine ears in slumber,
Lest any bird dare give thee note of day.

He rests so calmly; we lie so warmly;
Hand within hand, as children after play; -
In shafted amber on roof and chamber
Dawn enters; my Love awakens; here is day. [1893]

Funny how this poem speaks to me differently now, than when I was 18 and mugging for an exam :)