GOLD HAIR: A LEGEND OF PORNIC. 1. Он, the beautiful girl, too white, Who lived at Pornic, down by the sea, Just where the sea and the Loire unite! And a boasted name in Brittany She bore, which I will not write. 2. Too white, for the flower of life is red; Her flesh was the soft, seraphic screen Of a soul that is meant (her parents said) To just see earth, and hardly be seen, And blossom in Heaven instead. 3. Yet earth saw one thing, one how fair! 4. Hair, such a wonder of flix and floss, Freshness and fragrance-floods of it, too! Gold, did I say? Nay, gold 's mere dross : Here, Life smiled, "Think what I meant to do!" And Love sighed, "Fancy my loss!" 5. So, when she died, it was scarce more strange 6. That, while the breath was nearly to seek, And she broke forth, "I must speak!" 7. "Not my hair!" made the girl her moan"All the rest is gone or to go; But the last, last grace, my all, my own, Let it stay in the grave, that the ghosts may know! Leave my poor gold hair alone!" 8. The passion thus vented, dead lay she; 9. But curled around her brow, like a crown, And calmed about her neck-ay, down 10. All kissed that face, like a silver wedge Mid the yellow wealth, nor disturbed its hair; |