Classic Poem

On, Spring is blithe and Summer gay,
The Autumn golden and Winter gray;

But the seasons come and the seasons go,
All alike to me in their ebb and flow,

Since the day I rode by the cheating sea,
And one of its maidens had speech with me.

Her skin was whiter than words can speak,
The blush of the sea-shell lit her cheek;

Her lips had ripened in coral caves,
Her eyes were blue as the deeper waves;

And her long yellow hair fell fair and free
In a shower of amber upon the sea.

" Knight, gallant knight, a boon I pray:
Give me to ride thy charger gray! "

" Oh, ships for the sea, but steeds for the shore,
I'll give thee a boat with a golden oar! "

" Nay, gallant knight, no charm has the sea;
I would dwell on the green earth ever with thee! "

For her speech was fair as her face was fair;
Had she asked my soul, it was hers, I swear!

And I led her — light as sea-birds flit —
Where my steed stood champing his golden bit.

The stirrups of silver were wrought in Spain;
My hand into hers put the silken rein.

And that is the last, though the stars are old,
I saw of my steed with his housings of gold.

Was ever such folly in all the world wide?
But who would have though a mermaid could ride,

Or a maiden of earth, of air, or the wave,
Should fly from her love with the wings he gave?

Faithless and loveless I walk by the shore,
Never a maiden has speech with me more.

But this brings not back my charger gray,
Nor the false, false love who rode him away.