<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Bride</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The book was dull, its pictures</p><p class="line">As leaden as its lore,</p><p class="line">But one glad, happy picture</p><p class="line">Made up for all and more;</p><p class="line">'Twas that of you, sweet peasant,</p><p class="line">Beside your grannie's door--</p><p class="line">I never stopped so startled</p><p class="line">Inside a book before.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Just so had I sat spell-bound,</p><p class="line">Quite still with staring eyes,</p><p class="line">If some great shiny hoopoe</p><p class="line">Or moth of song-bird size</p><p class="line">Had drifted to my window</p><p class="line">And trailed its fineries --</p><p class="line">Just so had I been startled,</p><p class="line">Spelled with the same surprise.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">It pictured you when springtime</p><p class="line">In part had given place</p><p class="line">But not surrendered wholly</p><p class="line">To summer in your face;</p><p class="line">When still your slender body</p><p class="line">Was all a childish grace,</p><p class="line">Though woman's richest glories</p><p class="line">Were building there apace.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">'Twas blissful so to see you,</p><p class="line">Yet not without a sigh</p><p class="line">I dwelt upon the people</p><p class="line">Who saw you not as I,</p><p class="line">But in your living sweetness,</p><p class="line">Beneath your native sky;</p><p class="line">Ah, bliss to be the people</p><p class="line">When you went tripping by!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I sat there, thinking, wondering,</p><p class="line">About your life and home,</p><p class="line">The happy days behind you,</p><p class="line">The happy days to come,</p><p class="line">Your grannie in her corner,</p><p class="line">Upstairs the little room</p><p class="line">Where you wake up each morning</p><p class="line">To dream all day -- of Whom ?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">That ring upon your finger,</p><p class="line">Who gave you that to wear ?</p><p class="line">What blushing smith or farm lad</p><p class="line">Came stammering at your ear</p><p class="line">A million-time-told story</p><p class="line">No maid but burns to hear,</p><p class="line">And went about his labours</p><p class="line">Delighting in his dear!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I thought of you sweet lovers,</p><p class="line">The things you say and do,</p><p class="line">The pouts and tears and partings</p><p class="line">And swearings to be true,</p><p class="line">The kissings in the barley --</p><p class="line">You brazens, both of you!</p><p class="line">I nearly burst out crying</p><p class="line">With thinking of you two.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">It put me in a frenzy</p><p class="line">Of pleasure nearly pain,</p><p class="line">A host of blurry faces</p><p class="line">'Gan shaping in my brain,</p><p class="line">I shut my eyes to see them</p><p class="line">Come forward clear and plain,</p><p class="line">I saw them come full flower,</p><p class="line">And blur and fade again.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">One moment so I saw them,</p><p class="line">One sovereign moment so,</p><p class="line">A host of girlish faces</p><p class="line">All happy and aglow</p><p class="line">With Life and Love it dealt them</p><p class="line">Before it laid them low,</p><p class="line">A hundred years, a thousand,</p><p class="line">Ten thousand years ago.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">One moment so I saw them</p><p class="line">Come back with time full tide,</p><p class="line">The host of girls, your grannies,</p><p class="line">Who lived and loved and died</p><p class="line">To give your mouth its beauty,</p><p class="line">Your soul its gentle pride,</p><p class="line">Who wrestled with the ages</p><p class="line">To give the world a bride.</p></div></body></html> · Great War