Grey-Eyed Mabel Poem by Eliza Cook

Grey-Eyed Mabel

Rating: 2.7


I gazed on orbs of flashing black;
I met the glow of hazel light;
I marked the hue of laughing blue,
That sparkled in the festive night.
But none could fling a lasting spell
To hold me with unchanging power--
The chains they cast were never fast
Beyond the gay and fleeting hour--
Till Grey-eyed Mabel's gentle glance,
With blushing sense and beauty rife,
Bade my soul cry with burning sigh,
'I'm thine, and only thine, for life.'
Black, blue, and hazel stars have set,
But Mabel's grey eyes lead me yet.

What was it in sweet Mabel's eyes
That told me what no others told,
That roused the dull, that pleased the wise,
That charmed the young and cheered the old?
What was it held my world-worn breast
In holy thrall--unknown before?
What was it those grey eyes expressed
That made me worship and adore?
It was the pure and tender ray
That filled those eyes in joy or woe;
It was the beam that could not play
Without the fountain stream below;
It was the beam of simple truth,
Of Woman's faith and trusting Youth.

Those soft, grey eyes were watched by mine
With earnest, deep, and secret prayer;
I knew, I felt, my earthly shrine
Was found and fixed for ever--there.
I poured my heart one moonlit night
Into sweet Mabel's listening ear;
Our mutual vow, from then till now,
Bound each to each--fond, firm, and dear.
Our boys and girls are growing round,
And all give promise, brave and fair,
But one, young cherub form is found
First in my love, my hope, my care.
And why?--ah! why? My soul replies,
'She has dear Mabel's soft, grey eyes.'

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Nivetha Somasundaram 07 March 2017

A new entrant to the world of poetry through poem hunter I enjoyed your poem very much.

1 0 Reply
Bernard F. Asuncion 07 March 2017

Mutual vow.... thanks for sharing....

1 0 Reply
Edward Kofi Louis 07 March 2017

Fleeting hour! Thanks for sharing.

1 0 Reply
Tom Allport 07 March 2017

a loving poem that has a happy after ending?

1 0 Reply
Geeta Radhakrishna Menon 07 March 2017

An endearing poem that holds your attention throughout. Most beautifully narrated in this powerful poem by Eliza Cook.

0 0 Reply
Britte Ninad 11 June 2020

Into sweet Mabel's listening ear; Our mutual vow, from then till now, Bound each to each- fond, firm, and dear...........superb, immense powerful writings

0 0 Reply
Amar Agarwala 07 March 2017

Reading Eliza Cook for the first time... and found it to be a captivating read.

0 0 Reply
Ratnakar Mandlik 07 March 2017

A captivating poem with excellent flow, rhyme and rhythm.

1 0 Reply
Indira Renganathan 07 March 2017

And why? - ah! why? My soul replies, 'She has dear Mabel's soft, grey eyes.'.....superb work giving immense amusement....great

1 0 Reply
Seamus O Brian 07 March 2017

A work of adoration, written not from the perspective of new love, but a fond remembrance of overwhelming beauty written from a position of enduring love's security. Refreshing.

1 0 Reply
READ THIS POEM IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Eliza Cook

Eliza Cook

London Road / Southwark / England
Close
Error Success