The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-09-28
POETRY.
Sister and Lover.
BY +. W. BoURDILLoN.


ssLook not, linger nor, if you see
NV love in the wood is waiting for me-;
He will stand by the stem of the oak tree old
where first his love in my ear he tOld.''
She charged me thus, and gave my word
Listen was that his footstep stirfed?--
Yet fain would see but his figure dim,
For know she will crave for news of him,
"Look not, linger not, if perchance
He should turn to you curious glance;
For in the twilight of thickest pine
He will think any maiden form is mine.'
Before he saw me, promised to flee
LOOK, he Is standing beneath the tree!-
But would she be glad if l came away
With naught of her loves fair face to say?
"Look not, linger not, if he spy
And chase you, speedy of foot and eye;
For when you turn from the shade of the trees
He will grieve that it be not my face he Sees"
And haply nov is the time to flee
See, he has turned and is coming to mel
But now II he caught me with flushed cheeks ed,
'Twould seem as for bashful love fed.
"Look not, linger not, if he haste
And catch and question you on the waste;
For little to talk with you cares he.
But to ask how long he must wait for me-"
When he sees not her, he will turn away
But perhaps some message he has to say;
And If he be eager to ask of her,
Cruel 'twould be ere he come to stir.
"Look not, linger not, if he gaze
Into your eyes with his bright eyes blaze:
"He will only seek in their lustre clear
The look of the sisters eyes more DEAR"
But now he has set his hand in mine
How bright in my eyes his brown eyes shinei
But cannot gaze in their depths; they seem
With more than questioning love to CLEAN.
0T oolr not liuper NOT If be seek
To know OF your life rom week to week;
For he only cares of you this to know,
Where with your sister, and when, you go?"
cannot CO. for he holds my hand,
His clasp is hot as burning brand;
His voice is low, and scarce can hear
What it is that he whispers in my ear.
'Look not, lnger not, if he speak
or his healt with 10 We that's ready to break;
1t is but a message that he would send
10 his own dear love by trusty friend"
81 love you, dearest" he murmurs low.
He does not say, "Tell your sister So"
But If his message be for her ear,
must stay the end of his tale to hear.
"Look not, linger not, if he clasp
Your waist with a tender loving grasp;
It is but as he should say, Like this,
Give your sister from me kiss"
Show can 1 fee so closely pressed?-
How sweet it is in his arms to rest!-
How can turn me way, or speak,
While his kisses shower on my lips and cheek?
"LOok not Inger not, if he say,
Cruel you are to hurry away;'
For when his sun is hid from his sight,
You may seem as the moon to reflect my light"
But in vain cry to him, ''Let me go!'-
How sweetto be held in his strong arms sop
And in vain | struggle and strive to speak,
'Those kisses should be for my sisters cheek"
''Look not, linger not, haste again,
That his words may comfort nv waiting main:
And the world shall know by me and YOU,
That the trustiest friend is sister true"
But he says, sob, yourlsister fair may be,
But you, love, are all the world to me.''
If he love me so, am faithless-nay
If he love not her-yet awhile to stay.
-Harpers Magazine for October.