Scarlet Wings

Scarlet Wings

I love my love

And whereon he moves…

I love my love

And where he flies

On scarlet wings

Through blood-red skies

A dove appears

On spring’s bright morn

But feathers freeze

In winter’s scorn

I love my love

And whereon he goes

Cross smoke-stained hills

And starlit snows

The rocks I’d brave

The heights I’d climb

To pluck the rose

And mountain thyme

I love my love

And where he moves

The darkest storms

Bring thundering hooves

The riders charge,

The blooms are crushed

A scarlet sash

Bleeds in the dust

Oh, love, my love,

Fly on white wings

Till the bullets fly

And the cannon sings

The thyme is gone

The rose has thorns

The air is rent

By the hunting horn

Oh, my love, my love,

Your wings unfurled

Take heed, the balls

At thee are hurled

Young men they rise

Like barleycorn

But the scythe is sharp,

Their hearts are torn

Oh, love, my love,

Hear the warrior’s song

Thy snow-white wings

Are red e’er long

Oh, let the ground

Whereon he lies

Become the bed

Of him and I

Oh, love, my love,

The bullets fly

Thy wings are pierced

Thy song must die

Oh, let me sleep,

My heart grown still

My lips as ice

On the blood-stained hill

I love my love

And where he goes

Though scarlet wings

Lie faint in the snows

Original Poetry