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Poem
January 31, 1885
St. Landry Democrat
Opelousas, Saint Landry County, Louisiana
What is this article about?
A lyrical narrative poem depicting a young woman's patient wait for her sailor lover, Elisha, aboard the ship Starling, through the passage of seasons from summer to the following spring, when he returns amid joyful nature.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
HER WAITING,
"The sunbeams dimpled all the azure ocean,
The robins caroled vows of sweet devotion
And proudly dipped and rose the snug ship
Starling,
When young Elisha whispered:
"Good-bye
darling!
'Twill not be long to wait."
"The dusty bees buzzed in and out the bluebells,
The roses blushed and tossed their heads like
true belles,
The sun threw fleeting shadows 'cross the
mowing,
The brooklet gurgled softly in its flowing
And it was long to wait.
Through gay autumnal woods the wind went
sighing,
For all his summer sweethearts lay a-dying;
Blue gentians fringed the tiny upland river,
Some late bird-note set one sad heart a-quiver-
And it was long to wait.
The snow fell thick on river, wood and clearing,
The
blasts swept round and round in mad
careering.
And
out among
the
rocks, from dusk to
dawning,
Sounded the fog-bell's wildest cry of warning-
And it was long to wait
Spring came again, clad in her beauty royal,
As spring will come to steadfast hearts and
loyal,
And lo! the Starling into harbor swinging,
While from each hedge and tree the birds
were singing:
"It was not long to wait!"
-Emma C. Dowd, in Century.
"The sunbeams dimpled all the azure ocean,
The robins caroled vows of sweet devotion
And proudly dipped and rose the snug ship
Starling,
When young Elisha whispered:
"Good-bye
darling!
'Twill not be long to wait."
"The dusty bees buzzed in and out the bluebells,
The roses blushed and tossed their heads like
true belles,
The sun threw fleeting shadows 'cross the
mowing,
The brooklet gurgled softly in its flowing
And it was long to wait.
Through gay autumnal woods the wind went
sighing,
For all his summer sweethearts lay a-dying;
Blue gentians fringed the tiny upland river,
Some late bird-note set one sad heart a-quiver-
And it was long to wait.
The snow fell thick on river, wood and clearing,
The
blasts swept round and round in mad
careering.
And
out among
the
rocks, from dusk to
dawning,
Sounded the fog-bell's wildest cry of warning-
And it was long to wait
Spring came again, clad in her beauty royal,
As spring will come to steadfast hearts and
loyal,
And lo! the Starling into harbor swinging,
While from each hedge and tree the birds
were singing:
"It was not long to wait!"
-Emma C. Dowd, in Century.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ballad
Song
What themes does it cover?
Love Courtship
Nature Seasons
What keywords are associated?
Waiting
Seasons
Sailor
Love
Elisha
Starling Ship
Nature
Devotion
What entities or persons were involved?
Emma C. Dowd, In Century.
Poem Details
Title
Her Waiting,
Author
Emma C. Dowd, In Century.
Subject
A Woman's Wait For Her Sailor Lover Through The Seasons
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas With Refrain
Key Lines
When Young Elisha Whispered: "Good Bye Darling! 'Twill Not Be Long To Wait."
And It Was Long To Wait.
And Lo! The Starling Into Harbor Swinging, While From Each Hedge And Tree The Birds Were Singing: "It Was Not Long To Wait!"