To Nellie

Home is not home when thou art gone !
My heart in blindness seems to grope;
Where love's accustomed light has shone
'Tis dark as disappointed hope,
When thou art gone.

The oft appeal, the quick reply,
Still more, maybe, the silent sense
Of sympathy, when thou art by,
These, these are Home! 
And they are hence,
When thou art gone.

Wear not the rubies that I gave
Like wine, a glow with lurid heats;
But diamonds whiter than the wave
That down the northern channel beats.

Press pallid jewels to thy breast;
For they are free from dangerous fires;
They are not reddened with unrest,
Nor fierce unsatisfied desires.

Keep thine affection free from blame;
Austere, yet ardent purely shine;
To set thy crystal heart aflame
Shall never be a sin of mine

Rainbow showers of sunlight falling
Tint the dew on every spray!
Loud across the valley calling,
Hark the jolly cuckoo's lay!
Children, bringing
Wreaths, are singing
"Come away!"

Meadows now are primrose spangled;
Holly laughs no more at may;
Rills, no more by winter tangled,
Rippling down the coppice play!
Maids are maying,
Boys are straying!
Come away!

Holt and hurst, to spring awaking,
Birds in rapturous roundelay,
Sing you shame for money making,
Losing for the World Today!
Leave your labours,
Careful neighbours!
Come away!

I ask thee for a kiss no more.
As once I ask (and not in vain);
For now thy spirit I adore,
To wed thy spirit I am fain.

Thy face is fair, thine eyes are fond
Thy form was cast in beauty's mould;
But far beneath, or far beyond,
Dwells she, whom I would fain enfold:

She tends a shrine of vestal fire,
A fount of virgin fancy sips;
Immured from intimate desire,
She hides her heart and locks her lips.

Mock me no more, but let us wed!
Come forth, come forth, secluded bride!
No other way, when we are dead,
Shall we rejoice that we have died.

Again, dear heart, we snatch an hour
From Time, who grudges bliss;
Thy lips unfold, like morning flower,
To pout the promised kiss!

Deep hues arise within thine eyes;
Love's soft suffusion stealing,
Fills all thy face with tender grace
And all thy form with feeling.

Beside thee I can still forget
Life's purposes, how vain;
The force that dissipates in fret;
The disproportioned pain:

Who so may preach, can never reach
(Too careful comfort doling),
The soothing power of one dear hour
Of thy complete consoling.

Love comes to all !
When will he come to me?
Love be kind!
Let her be fair and let her be tall,
Let her laugh merrily!
Love, be kind!

Love comes to all!
So she is fair to me,
Never mind!
Let her seem fair, and fair must befall!
We shall live merrily!
Love is blind.

Love comes to all!
Love, when you come to me,
Be not blind!
Let her be fair and let her be tall,
Let her laugh merrily!
Love, be kind!