Christina Georgina Rossetti

Goblin Market, the Prince's Progress, and Other Poems Christina Georgina Rossetti

Excerpt: ...shrinks from me with fright, Is fain to turn away to left or right And cover up his eyes from the sight?' 'Indeed I loved you, my chosen friend, I loved you for life, but life has an end; Through sickness I was ready to tend: But death mars all, which we cannot mend. 20 'Indeed I loved you; I love you yet, If you will stay where your bed is set, Where I have planted a violet, Which the wind waves, which the dew makes wet.' 'Life is gone, then love too is gone, It was a reed that I leant upon: Never doubt I will leave you alone And not wake you rattling bone with bone. 'I go home alone to my bed, Dug deep at the foot and deep at the head, 30 Roofed in with a load of lead, Warm enough for the forgotten dead. 'But why did your tears soak through the clay, And why did your sobs wake me where I lay? I was away, far enough away: Let me sleep now till the Judgment Day.' A PORTRAIT I She gave up beauty in her tender youth,   Gave all her hope and joy and pleasant ways;   She covered up her eyes lest they should gaze On vanity, and chose the bitter truth. Harsh towards herself, towards others full of ruth,   Servant of servants, little known to praise,   Long prayers and fasts trenched on her nights and days: She schooled herself to sights and sounds uncouth That with the poor and stricken she might make   A home, until the least of all sufficed 10 Her wants; her own self learned she to forsake, Counting all earthly gain but hurt and loss. So with calm will she chose and bore the cross   And hated all for love of Jesus Christ. II They knelt in silent anguish by her bed,   And could not weep; but calmly there she lay.   All pain had left her; and the sun's last ray Shone through upon her, warming into red The shady curtains. In her heart she said:   'Heaven opens; I leave these and go away; 20   The Bridegroom calls,-shall the Bride seek to stay?' Then low upon her breast she bowed her head. O lily flower, O gem of priceless worth,   O...