GOLD HAIR: A LEGEND OF PORNIC. 1. OH, 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! One grace that grew to its full on earth: Smiles might be sparse on her cheek so spare, And her waist want half a girdle's girth, But she had her great gold hair. 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 To her breast, pressed flat, without a gap I' the gold, it reached her gown. 10. All kissed that face, like a silver wedge Mid the yellow wealth, nor disturbed its hair; E'en the priest allowed death's privilege, As he planted the crucifix with care On her breast, 'twixt edge and edge. 11. And thus was she buried, inviolate Of body and soul, in the very space By the altar; keeping saintly state In Pornic church, for her pride of race, Pure life, and piteous fate. 12. And in after-time would your fresh tear fall, Though your mouth might twitch with a dubious smile, As they told you of gold both robe and pall, 13. Years flew; this legend grew at last The life of the lady; all she had done, All been, in the memories fading fast Of lover and friend, was summed in one Sentence survivors passed: 14. To wit, she was meant for Heaven, not earth; Yet, since she was mortal, in such dearth |