Love
Bridal Serenade
From Poems, Posthumous and Collected (1851)
Maiden, thou sittest alone above,
Crowned with flowers, and like a sprite
Starrily clothed in a garment white:
Thou art the only maiden I love,
And a soul of fondness to thee I bring,
Thy glorious beauty homaging,—
But ah! thou wearest a golden ring.
Maiden, thou'st broken no vow to me,
But undone me alone with gentleness,
Wasting upon me glances that bless;
And knew'st that I never was born for thee.
No hope, no joy; yet never more
My heart shall murmur; now 'tis o'er,
I'll bless thee dying at thy door.
Codex Note
A rejected lover serenades a maiden who wears another man's ring. He blames her for nothing, only for undoing him with gentleness, and promises to bless her as he dies at her door.
Cite this poem
MLA
Beddoes, Thomas Lovell. “Bridal Serenade.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/beddoes/5/.
Chicago
Beddoes, Thomas Lovell. “Bridal Serenade.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/beddoes/5/.
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