Poems (Brown)/Maud Lee

by Carrie L. Brown

MAUD LEE. 

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I gaze on thy picture to-night, Maud Lee,
 In thy young and innocent joy,
And my heart beats fast as I gaze, Maud Lee,
 But it beats without alloy.
Fair and lovely is thy face, Maud Lee,
 Fair and lovely to-night;
Smooth and red is the blush, Maud Lee,
 That flits o'er thy cheek so bright.

Soft are thy beautiful curls of brown,
 That droop on thy shoulders low,
And I seem to hear to-night, Maud Lee,
 Thy lisping words in the sunset's glow.
Once I loved thy fair face, Maud Lee,
 And basked in thy cheerful smiles,
And listened with quick and fond delight,
 And laughed at thy maiden wiles.

I offered thee once this noble heart,
 And sued for thy fair hand,
And asked you to be the poet's bride,
 The happiest one in the land;
You scorned my offer, proud Maud Lee,
 You scorned this faithful heart,
And vowed in voice, both soft and low,
 That you with me would part.

I left my poet's home, Maud Lee,
 And won for myself a name;
I travelled far o'er land and sea,
 In search of earthly fame.
You then became a rich man's bride,
 And revelled in silver and gold;
I sighed from my heart when I heard thy fate,
 For my love was the same as of old.

You sat at a rich and well-decked board;
 You led the dance with glee;
You then were called the rich man's bride,
 But I read at once thy misery.
And I gaze on thy picture to-night, Maud Lee,
 As I sit by my window alone,
And T watch in vain for thy curls of brown,
 List in vain for thy merry tone.

But thou hast made thy choice, Maud Lee,
 Between the palace and cot,
And thy gentle, graceful, girlish form
 Is linked with every thought.
But you made your choice that day, Maud Lee,
 In thy young and careless joy,
And I gaze on thy face to-night, Maud Lee,
 But I gaze without alloy.