COME INTO THE GARDEN 1855

 "Come into the garden, Maud..." (1855)
                          -Sir Alfred , Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) (excerpts)

COME into the garden, Maud,For the black bat, night, has flown,

                                              

ALL night have the roses heard the flute, violin, bassoon.

                                                 
To the dancers dancing in tune, til silence fell with the waking bird, and a hush with the setting moon.

Now half to the setting moon are gone, and half to the rising day; Low on the sand and loud on the stone the last wheel echoes away.

And the soul of the rose went into my blood, as the music clashed in the hall; and long by the garden lake I stood....

From the lake to the meadow and on to the wood,

                        our wood, that is dearer than all;

From the meadow your walks have left so sweet that whenever a March-winds sighs He sets the jewel print of your feet.

The lilies and roses were all awake, they sighed for the dawn and thee.
.

Queen rose of the rosebud garden of girls, come hither,                      the dance is done.

There has fallen a splendid tear from the passion-flower at the gate.

The red rose cries,, "She is near, she is near." And the white rose weeps " She is late."

And the larkspur listens, " I hear, I hear," 

                     and the lily whispers " I wait"

My heart would hear her and beat, were it earth in an earthy bed....

My dust would hear her and beat....

Would start and tremble under her feet.......

 And blossom and purple and red.

 Photographs 2019 "Come into the Garden Maud" From Poems of Tennyson, Collier and Son 1902