Lost Love

Here's one more from the Antonia Fraser anthology that has stuck with me. I like the contrast of the sing-song like rhythm of the lines- almost like a children's book- and what it actually says, which is something you have to be much older to understand.

Lost Love

Who wins his love shall lose her,
Who loses her shall gain,
For still the spirit woos her,
A soul without a stain;
And memory still pursues her
With longings not in vain!

He loses her who gains her,
Who watches day by day
The dust of time that stains her,
The griefs that leave her grey-
The flesh that yet enchains her
Whose grace hath passed away!

Oh, happier he who gains not
The love some seem to gain:
The joy that custom stains not
Shall still with him remain;
The loveliness that wanes not,
The love that ne'er can wane.

In dreams she grows not older
The lands of dream among;
Though all the world wax colder,
Though all the songs be sung,
In dreams doth he behold her
Still fair and kind and young.

Andrew Lang