Poem by Isabella Valancy Crawford

Said the Thistle-Down

"If thou wilt hold my silver hair,
  O Lady sweet and bright;
I'll bring thee, maiden darling, where
  Thy lover is to-night.
Lay down thy robe of cloth of gold--
  Gold, weigheth heavily,
Thy necklace wound in jewell'd fold,
  And hie thee forth with me."

"O Thistle-down, dear Thistle-down,
  I've laid my robe aside;
My necklace and my jewell'd crown,
  And yet I cannot glide
Along the silver crests of night
  With thee, light thing, with thee.
Rain would I try the airy flight,
  What sayest thou to me?"

"If thou wilt hold my silver hair,
  O maiden fair and proud;
We'll float upon the purple air
  High as yon lilied cloud.
There is a jewel weighs thy heart;
  If thou with me wouldst glide
That cold, cold jewel place apart--
  The jewel of thy pride!"

"O Thistle-down, dear Thistle-down
  That jewel part I've set;
With golden robe and shining crown
  And cannot follow yet!
Fain would I clasp thy silver tress
  And float on high with thee;
Yet somewhat me to earth doth press--
  What sayest thou to me?

"If thou wilt hold my silver hair
  O lady, sweet and chaste;
We'll dance upon the sparkling air
  And to thy lover haste.
A lily lies upon thy breast
  Snow-white as it can be--
It holds thee strong--sweet, with the rest
  Yield lilied chastity."

"O Thistle-down, false Thistle-down
  I've parted Pride and Gold;
Laid past my jewels and my crown--
  My golden robings' fold.
I will not lay my lily past--
  Love's light as vanity
When to the mocking wind is cast
  The lily, Chastity."

1. Said the West Wind
2. Songs for the Soldiers
3. “In Exchange for His Soul!”
4. Joy's City
5. How Deacon Fry Bought a “Duchess”

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