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Poem
December 6, 1843
The North Carolina Standard
Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina
What is this article about?
Newspaper commentary mocks an editor's demand for postage on a poetic love letter from Portsmouth, Va., to North Carolina, then shares the enclosed folk song 'The Turtle Dove' about a lover's promises of fidelity amid separation and parental disapproval.
Merged-components note: Merging literary introduction with the poem 'The Turtle Dove' on page 4.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
LOVE POETRY.
A churlish editor of some newspaper published in the swamps of North Carolina, prefaces 'the following exquisite lines,' as the magazines call their poetry, with this cold, heartless, worldly hint to the enamoured swain: 'The individual in Portsmouth, Va., who sent the following piece of poetry to a young lady in this place, is requested to pay the postage when he writes again.'
Could the lady have suggested this cruelty? For the sake of womankind, we hope not! That such a lover could pay postage! That hands fit to indite such strains could condescend to chase dirty coin into pocket corners! As soon ask great men to pay their debts, or demand of Genius that it should pay its board, or abandon its eccentric forgetfulness about tailor's bills.
What was two-pence to such a poet as this or he to two-pence? He had that within him—but we detain the reader. His own enthusiasm will suggest what we would have said. We repeat that these are exquisite lines. If any doubt—we refer them to the morning newspapers or better, while we rest in our own opinion.
The Turtle Dove
O don't you see that turtle dove
sitting on yonder pine
lamenting for her own true love
as I have done for mine.
O don't you see that crow so black
turning to perfect white
if ever I do prove false my dear
I wish I may be banished out of sight.
O stay with me my dear says she
o stay with me a while
whenever I go I will return back again
if it is ten thousand miles.
Ten thousand miles and more my dear
till my heart gives ease
ten thousand miles and more my dear
until our friends are pleased.
That pleasing day will never come
said I with an angry eye
but I can love you my dear says she
until the rolling seas run dry.
Till the rolling sea runs dry my dear
and hard rocks melt with the sun
but I can love you my dear says she
till all these things are done.
O who will shoe your pretty little feet
and who will glove your hands
and who will kiss your two sweet lips
when I am gone to the foreign lands.
My father will shoe my pretty little feet
and my mother will glove your hands
and you may kiss my two sweet lips
when you come from the foreign lands.
Learn this song for the sake of that lamenting
dove.
A churlish editor of some newspaper published in the swamps of North Carolina, prefaces 'the following exquisite lines,' as the magazines call their poetry, with this cold, heartless, worldly hint to the enamoured swain: 'The individual in Portsmouth, Va., who sent the following piece of poetry to a young lady in this place, is requested to pay the postage when he writes again.'
Could the lady have suggested this cruelty? For the sake of womankind, we hope not! That such a lover could pay postage! That hands fit to indite such strains could condescend to chase dirty coin into pocket corners! As soon ask great men to pay their debts, or demand of Genius that it should pay its board, or abandon its eccentric forgetfulness about tailor's bills.
What was two-pence to such a poet as this or he to two-pence? He had that within him—but we detain the reader. His own enthusiasm will suggest what we would have said. We repeat that these are exquisite lines. If any doubt—we refer them to the morning newspapers or better, while we rest in our own opinion.
The Turtle Dove
O don't you see that turtle dove
sitting on yonder pine
lamenting for her own true love
as I have done for mine.
O don't you see that crow so black
turning to perfect white
if ever I do prove false my dear
I wish I may be banished out of sight.
O stay with me my dear says she
o stay with me a while
whenever I go I will return back again
if it is ten thousand miles.
Ten thousand miles and more my dear
till my heart gives ease
ten thousand miles and more my dear
until our friends are pleased.
That pleasing day will never come
said I with an angry eye
but I can love you my dear says she
until the rolling seas run dry.
Till the rolling sea runs dry my dear
and hard rocks melt with the sun
but I can love you my dear says she
till all these things are done.
O who will shoe your pretty little feet
and who will glove your hands
and who will kiss your two sweet lips
when I am gone to the foreign lands.
My father will shoe my pretty little feet
and my mother will glove your hands
and you may kiss my two sweet lips
when you come from the foreign lands.
Learn this song for the sake of that lamenting
dove.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ballad
Song
What themes does it cover?
Love Courtship
What keywords are associated?
Turtle Dove
True Love
Fidelity Oath
Separation
Enduring Love
Folk Ballad
Poem Details
Title
The Turtle Dove
Subject
Lamenting For True Love
Key Lines
O Don't You See That Turtle Dove
Sitting On Yonder Pine
Lamenting For Her Own True Love
As I Have Done For Mine.
But I Can Love You My Dear Says She
Until The Rolling Seas Run Dry.
Till The Rolling Sea Runs Dry My Dear
And Hard Rocks Melt With The Sun
But I Can Love You My Dear Says She
Till All These Things Are Done.
My Father Will Shoe My Pretty Little Feet
And My Mother Will Glove Your Hands
And You May Kiss My Two Sweet Lips
When You Come From The Foreign Lands.