Dedication to Malcolm Nicolson
I, who of lighter love wrote many a verse,Made public never words inspired by thee,Lest strangers’ lips should carelessly rehearseThings that were sacred and too dear to me.Thy soul was noble; through these fifteen yearsMine eyes familiar, found no fleck nor flaw,Stern to thyself, thy comrades’ faults and fearsProved generously thine only law.Small joy was I to thee; before we metSorrow had left thee all too sad to save.Useless my love—as vain as this regretThat pours my hopeless life across thy grave.L. H.
I, who of lighter love wrote many a verse,Made public never words inspired by thee,Lest strangers’ lips should carelessly rehearseThings that were sacred and too dear to me.Thy soul was noble; through these fifteen yearsMine eyes familiar, found no fleck nor flaw,Stern to thyself, thy comrades’ faults and fearsProved generously thine only law.Small joy was I to thee; before we metSorrow had left thee all too sad to save.Useless my love—as vain as this regretThat pours my hopeless life across thy grave.L. H.
I, who of lighter love wrote many a verse,Made public never words inspired by thee,Lest strangers’ lips should carelessly rehearseThings that were sacred and too dear to me.
I, who of lighter love wrote many a verse,
Made public never words inspired by thee,
Lest strangers’ lips should carelessly rehearse
Things that were sacred and too dear to me.
Thy soul was noble; through these fifteen yearsMine eyes familiar, found no fleck nor flaw,Stern to thyself, thy comrades’ faults and fearsProved generously thine only law.
Thy soul was noble; through these fifteen years
Mine eyes familiar, found no fleck nor flaw,
Stern to thyself, thy comrades’ faults and fears
Proved generously thine only law.
Small joy was I to thee; before we metSorrow had left thee all too sad to save.Useless my love—as vain as this regretThat pours my hopeless life across thy grave.
Small joy was I to thee; before we met
Sorrow had left thee all too sad to save.
Useless my love—as vain as this regret
That pours my hopeless life across thy grave.
L. H.
L. H.