["ONE FOOT ON SEA, AND ONE ON SHORE."]
"Oh tell me once and tell me twice
And tell me thrice to make it plain,
When we who part this weary day,
When we who part shall meet again."
"When windflowers blossom on the sea
And fishes skim along the plain,
Then we who part this weary day,
Then you and I shall meet again."
"Yet tell me once before we part,
Why need we part who part in pain?
If flowers must blossom on the sea,
Why, we shall never meet again.
"My cheeks are paler than a rose,
My tears are salter than the main,
My heart is like a lump of ice
If we must never meet again."
"Oh weep or laugh, but let me be,
And live or die, for all's in vain;
For life's in vain since we must part,
And parting must not meet again
"Till windflowers blossom on the sea,
And fishes skim along the plain;
Pale rose of roses let me be,
Your breaking heart breaks mine again."
[BUDS AND BABIES.]
A million buds are born that never blow,
That sweet with promise lift a pretty head
To blush and wither on a barren bed
And leave no fruit to show.
Sweet, unfulfilled. Yet have I understood
One joy, by their fragility made plain:
Nothing was ever beautiful in vain,
Or all in vain was good.
[BOY JOHNNY.]
"If you'll busk you as a bride
And make ready,
It's I will wed you with a ring,
O fair lady."
"Shall I busk me as a bride,
I so bonny,
For you to wed me with a ring,
O boy Johnny?"
"When you've busked you as a bride
And made ready,
Who else is there to marry you,
O fair lady?"
"I will find my lover out,
I so bonny,
And you shall bear my wedding-train,
O boy Johnny."