Classic Poem

ETHNA, TO CULL SWEET FLOWERS DIVINELY FAIR ,
TO SEEK FOR GEMS OF SUCH TRANSPARENT LIGHT
AS WOULD NOT BE UNWORTHY TO UNITE
ROUND THY FAIR BROW, AND THROUGH THY DARK BROWN HAIR ,
I WOULD THAT I HAD WINGS TO CLEAVE THE AIR ,
IN SEARCH OF SOME FAR REGION OF DELIGHT ,
THAT BACK TO THEE FROM THAT ADVENTUROUS FLIGHT ,
A GLORIOUS WREATH MY HAPPY HANDS MIGHT BEAR ;
SOON WOULD THE SWEETEST PERSIAN ROSE BE THINE —
SOON WOULD THE GLORY OF GOLCONDA'S MINE
FLASH ON THY FOREHEAD, LIKE A STAR — AH! ME ,
IN PLACE OF THESE, I BRING, WITH TREMBLING HAND ,
THESE FADING WILD FLOWERS FROM OUR NATIVE LAND —
THESE SIMPLE PEBBLES FROM THE IRISH SEA !