Bells and Other Poems

<h2><i><SPAN name="BRIDAL_BALLAD"></SPAN>BRIDAL BALLAD</i></h2> <p class="poem"> The ring is on my hand.<br/> <span class="ind1">And the wreath is on my brow;</span><br/> Satin and jewels grand<br/> Are all at my command,<br/> <span class="ind1">And I am happy now.</span><br/> <br/> And my lord he loves me well;<br/> <span class="ind1">But, when first he breathed his vow,</span><br/> I felt my bosom swell&mdash;<br/> For the words rang as a knell,<br/> And the voice seemed <i>his</i> who fell<br/> In the battle down the dell,<br/> <span class="ind1">And who is happy now.</span><br/> <br/> But he spoke to re-assure me,<br/> <span class="ind1">And he kissed my pallid brow,</span><br/> While a reverie came o'er me,<br/> And to the church-yard bore me,<br/> And I sighed to him before me,<br/> Thinking him dead D'Elormie,<br/> <span class="ind1">"Oh, I am happy now!"</span><br/> <br/> And thus the words were spoken,<br/> <span class="ind1">And this the plighted vow,</span><br/> And, though my faith be broken,<br/> And, though my heart be broken,<br/> Here is a ring, as token<br/> <span class="ind1">That I am happy now!</span><br/> <br/> Would God I could awaken!<br/> <span class="ind1">For I dream I know not how!</span><br/> And my soul is sorely shaken<br/> Lest an evil step be taken,&mdash;<br/> Lest the dead who is forsaken<br/> <span class="ind1">May not be happy now.</span><br/></p> <hr class="r15" /> <div class="plate"> <SPAN name="pl19"></SPAN><SPAN href="images/large/pl19.jpg"><ANTIMG src="images/pl19.jpg" alt="" /></SPAN></div> <p class="caption">Bridal Ballad</p> <hr class="r65" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />