When 'Midst the Gay I Meet

When 'Midst the Gay I Meet

Original Text
Thomas Moore, Poetical Works (London: Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longman, 1840-41): V, 183-84. PR 5050 1840 Robarts Library
1When 'midst the gay I meet
2    That gentle smile of thine,
3Though still on me it turns most sweet,
4    I scarce can call it mine:
5But when to me alone
6    Your secret tears you show,
7Oh, then I feel those tears my own,
8    And claim them while they flow.
9Then still with bright looks bless
10    The gay, the cold, the free;
11Give smiles to those who love you less,
12    But keep your tears for me.
14    Can smile in many a beam,
15Yet still in chains of coldness sleep,
16    How bright soe'er it seem.
17But, when some deep-felt ray,
18    Whose touch is fire, appears,
19Oh, then the smile is warm'd away,
20    And, melting, turns to tears.
21Then still with bright looks bless
22    The gay, the cold, the free;
23Give smiles to those who love you less,
24    But keep your tears for me.

Notes

13] Jura: one of the Hebrides isles, located a dozen miles off the west coast of Scotland, and famous for its three mountains, called locally "paps." Back to Line
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2004
Rhyme