Desiree Poem by Nora Jane Hopper Chesson

She had as many loves as she had follies,
And all her light loves lightly sang her praises;
But now, laid low beneath sharp-leaved sea-hollies
And pale sea-daisies,
Here at the limit of the hollow shore,
Folly and praise are covered meetly o'er.


We will not tell her beads of beauty over:
All that we say, and all we leave unsaid
Be buried with her. There 's no lightest lover
But scatters on her bed
Pansies for thoughts, and woodruff white as she,
And, for remembrance, quiet rosemary.


Here is the end of laughter: quenched together
Are grief and mirth. Here, dancing feet fall still,
Here, where wild thyme and sea-pinks brave wild weather
And die at the wind's will.
Bring her no dreams here to her quiet home
Thou Sea, her sister! bring her weeds and foam.