Ballade of Tristram's Last Harping / Gertrude Bartlett

Ballade of Tristram's Last Harping

The end that Love doth seek, what bard can say,
     In that fair season when the tender green
Of opening leaves doth roof the woods of May,
     And sweet wild buds from out their places lean
To touch the dainty feet that heedless stray
     Among them, with a youth in knight's attire?
His lady's will capricious to obey,
     This is the end of dawning Love's desire.

And when amid the summer's bright array
     Of blossoms, are the crimson roses seen,
And one young maid, fairer than any spray
     In perfect bloom, wanders their lines between,
What blessed solace can the lover pray
     Of her compassion, for his heart of fire?
With kisses on her mouth all words to stay –
     This is the end of eager Love's desire.

With driven clouds the lowering sky is grey;
     The winds above the frozen hills are keen,
And all fair buds have fallen in decay;
     What joy hath now the true knight of his Queen
No rapture less exultant can allay
     His need, than softly craves this faulty lyre:
To answer all his pleading with sweet 'Yea' –
     This is the end of yearning Love's desire.

Envoi

Beloved, now is done our life's brief day;
     Not with the day howe'er doth Love expire.
Within thine arms the night to dream away –
    This is the end of Love's supreme desire.

~~
Gertrude Bartlett
from Canadian Poets, 1916

[Poem is in the public domain in Canada, the United States, and the European Union]

Gertrude Bartlett biography