Graham Blicq

On Raglan Road on an autumn day I met her first and knew That her dark hair would weave a snare that I might one day rue; I saw the danger, yet I walked along the enchanted way, And I said, let grief be a fallen leaf at the dawning of the day. On Grafton Street in November we tripped lightly along the ledge Of the deep ravine where can be seen the worth of passion's pledge, The Queen of Hearts still making tarts and I not making hay - O' I loved too much and by such and such is happiness thrown away. I gave her gifts of the mind I gave her the secret sign that's known To the artists who have known the true gods of sound and stone And word and tint. I did not stint for I gave her poems to say. With her own name there and her own dark hair like clouds over fields of May On a quiet street where old ghosts meet I see her walking now Away from me so hurriedly my reason must allow That I had wooed not as I should a creature made of clay - When the angel woos the clay he'd lose his wings at the dawn of day. --- I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead; I lift my lids and all is born again. (I think I made you up inside my head.) The stars go waltzing out in blue and red, And arbitrary blackness gallops in: I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead. I dreamed that you bewitched me into bed And sung me moon-struck, kissed me quite insane. (I think I made you up inside my head.) God topples from the sky, hell's fires fade: Exit seraphim and Satan's men: I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead. --- On the night that I was married And upon my marriage bed There came a bold sea captain And he stood at my bedhead Saying, "arise, arise, young wedded man And come along with me To the lowlands of Holland To fight the enemy" Now then, Holland is a lovely land And upon it grows fine grain Surely 'tis a place of residence For a soldier to remain Where the sugar cane is plentiful And the tea grows on each tree I only had the one to love and now he's gone far away from me I will wear no stays around my waist Nor combs all in my hair I will wear no scarf around my neck for to shade my beauty fair And never will I marry Not until the day that I die Since high winds and stormy seas have parted me love and I. ---