OH! EVER THUS

Thomas Moore 1779-1852

 Oh! ever thus, from childhood's hour,

   I've seen my fondest hopes decay;

 I never loved a tree or flower,

   But 'twas the first to fade away.

 I never nursed a dear gazelle,

   To glad me with its soft black eye,

 But when it came to know me well,

   And love me, it was sure to die!

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'TWAS EVER THUS

Henry Sambrooke Leigh 1837-83

  

I never rear'd a young gazelle, 

(Because, you see, I never tried); 

But, had it known and loved me well, 

No doubt the creature would have died. 

My rich and aged uncle John 

Has known me long and loves me well, 

But still persists in living on -

I would he were a young gazelle.

I never loved a tree or flower; 

But, if I had, I beg to say, 

The blight, the wind, the sun, or shower, 

Would soon have withered it away. 

I've dearly loved my uncle John, 

From childhood till the present hour, 

And yet he will go living on, - 

I would he were a tree or flower!

The new Poetry blog THE SONGS AND SONNETS OF JOHN DONNE is now online
http://thesongsandsonnetsofjohndonne.blogspot.com

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