"O, lay thy hand in mine, dear!" Gerald Massey (1828-1907). VIII. Wedded Love. Bliss Carman, et al., eds. 1904. The World's Best Poetry. II. Love

Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume II. Love. 1904.

VIII. Wedded Love

“O, lay thy hand in mine, dear!”

Gerald Massey (1828–1907)


O, LAY thy hand in mine, dear!
We ’re growing old;
But Time hath brought no sign, dear,
That hearts grow cold.
’T is long, long since our new love	5
Made life divine;
But age enricheth true love,
Like noble wine.

And lay thy cheek to mine, dear,
And take thy rest;	10
Mine arms around thee twine, dear,
And make thy nest.
A many cares are pressing
On this dear head;
But Sorrow’s hands in blessing	15
Are surely laid.

O, lean thy life on mine, dear!
’T will shelter thee.
Thou wert a winsome vine, dear,
On my young tree:	20
And so, till boughs are leafless,
And songbirds flown,
We ’ll twine, then lay us, griefless,
Together down.