The Wynter Stars
I cannot stay wi' thee, my love
This long and chill Decembre night
The wynter stars that burn above
Cast forth their shrill and hollow light
On ev'ry hamlet, ev'ry dell
And of the coming battle tell
And tho' I'd bravely meet the fight
The stars do not bode well
I cannot tarry longer, dear
The lonely chruchbells, far away
Proclaim the midnight hour is here
And lo! the moon hangs ashen-grey
Atop the pallid, cloud-scarr'd sky
The banshee hurls her mournful cry
From far beyond the frozen bay --
Tomorrow I shall die
I cannot pass this night wi' thee
Tho' come the dawn we two were wed
Fate deems our love is not to be
The new-morn breeze that finds me dead
Shall veil the fading world wi' hoar
As tho' to hide th'entrails of war
The cold, black pools of death outspread
Like dirt across Earth's floor
And if tomorrow finds me dead
Thou'lt search the silenc'd battleground
And wade thee thro the corpse-strewn meade
Until my bones are found
Hid thick within the frozen gore
That mars each meadow, vale, and moor
And tho' th'untimely dead abound
My love bids thee endure
Thou'lt gently wipe the dirt away
From off my bow'd and bloodéd head
And hold me in thine arms and say
Thou lovs't me tho I'm dead
The stars in wynter's frozen dome
Like silent ghosts from ancient Rome
-- Cast down their light acrost the meade
For thou to lead my Spirit home
Copyright © Michael Pendragon | Year Posted 2013
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment