Sonnets by Rossetti

Southland Times, Issue 11326, 6 December 1889, Page 4

Sonnets by Rossetti

I Bat with Love upon a woodside well, Leaning across the water, I and he ; Nor ever did he speak nor looked at me, But touched his lute wherein was audible The certain secret thing he had to tell; Only our mirrored eyes met silently In the low wave : and that, sound came to be- - The passionate voice I knew ; and my tears fell. Aai at their f all hiß eyesbsneath grew hers , And with'his foot and with Mb wing-feathera He swept, the spring (that watered my heart's drouth. Then the dark rippl«s spread to waving hair. And as I stooped; toer'own'Jips rising-there Bubbled with brimming kisßea at my month. Love to bis singer held a glistening leaf, ■ . And said : 'The rose-tree sad the appleVm> ■■'■■■ '■■ ■•■ : ■ " - ; Have trm* b to vaunt or flowers to lute the bee-; • ; -„ „, • ■ . And golden Bhafts are in the feathsred Bheaf Of the g=eat harvest marshal, the year's chief, Yictoiiouß summer j aje, and 'neatbwarm eea Strange secret grasses lurk inviolably Between the filtering channels of sunken reef. All are my blooms; and all sweet blooms of love Tothee I gave while Spring and Summer sang; But Autumn stops to listenj with some pang From those worse thiegs the -wind ia moaning 1 of. Only this laurel dreads no winter days ; Take my last gift ; thy heart hath sung my praise.'