Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, NELLIE, by LAURANCE J. NICOLSON


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

NELLIE, by                    
First Line: What ails thee, little rosebud of my heart?
Last Line: "forget-me-not?"" no, little darling, no!"
Alternate Author Name(s): Bard Of Thule
Subject(s): Children; Death; Love; Childhood; Dead, The


WHAT ails thee, little rosebud of my heart?
The birds are singing in the sunny sky,
And yet my little one from all apart,
Can only answer with a wailing cry.

The am'rous breeze but woos the gentle flow'rs
To steal their souls, and wander heedless by;
We wait beside thee through the silent hours,
Yet see we nought but sorrow in thine eye.

And like forget-me-nots bedrench'd with dew,
Thine eyes look strangely up from beds of snow;
Thine eyes look up -- thy spirit shineth through --
"Forget-me-not?" No, little darling, no!

The summer sunshine bids the heart rejoice,
And earth, and sea, and sky in rapture meet;
When shall we hear the music of thy voice
Keep happy time to little patt'ring feet.

Thy brother pauses in his lonely play,
And with a wearied sigh, yet patiently,
"To-morrow," little darling, he will say,
"Will Nellie rise? and will she play with me?"

"To-morrow," with its sunshine, never came --
My little boy is standing at my side,
And clasping still the mem'ry of a name,
With wond'ring eyes he whispers -- "Nellie died."

O, sweet forget-me-nots, bedrench'd with dew!
Dear eyes that follow me where'er I go;
Entreating still from death-calm depths of blue.
"Forget-me-not?" No, little darling, no!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net