Love

The Golden Wedding-Ring

by Gerald Massey 1828–1907

From The Poetical Works (1861)

Love

With a white hand like a lady,
And a heart as merry as Spring,
I am ripe and I am ready
For a golden wedding-ring;
Heigho, for a wedding-ring.

This old world is scarce worth seeing,
Till Love wave his purple wing
And we gauge the bliss of being,
Thro' a golden wedding-ring;
Heigho, for a wedding-ring.

Would you draw far Eden nearer,
And to earth the Angels bring j1
You must seek the magic mirror
Of a golden wedding-ring;
Heigho, for a wedding-ring.

As the earth with sea. is bounded,
And the winter- world with spring,
So a Maiden's life is rounded
With a golden wedding-ring;
Heigho, for a wedding-ring.

I have known full many a Maiden,
Like a white rose withering,
Into a fresh ripe beauty redden
Thro' a golden wedding-ring;
Heigho, for a wedding-ring.

As the crescent Moon rings golden,
Her full glory perfecting,
Womanly beauty is unfolden
In a golden wedding-ring;
Heigho, for a wedding-ring.

Fainting spirits oft grow fearless,
Sighing hearts will soar and sing,
Tearful eyes will laugh out tearless,
Thro' a golden wedding-ring;
Heigho, for a wedding-ring.

There's no jewel so worth wearing,
That a Lover's hands may bring, —
There's no treasure worth comparing
With a golden wedding-ring;
Heigho, for a wedding-ring.

Ah! when hearts are wildly beating,
And when arms all glowing cling,
Think, Love's circle wants completing
With a golden wedding-ring;
Heigho, for a wedding-ring.

✦ ✦ ✦

From the section "Songs for Singing" of The Poetical Works (1861).

MLA

Massey, Gerald. “The Golden Wedding-Ring.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/massey/13/.

Chicago

Massey, Gerald. “The Golden Wedding-Ring.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/massey/13/.

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