A Coronal

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WITH HIS SONGS AND HER DAYS TO HIS LADY AND TO LOVE

  Violets and leaves of vine,
  Into a frail, fair wreath
  We gather and entwine:
  A wreath for Love to wear,
  Fragrant as his own breath,
  To crown his brow divine,
  All day till night is near.
  Violets and leaves of vine
  We gather and entwine.

  Violets and leaves of vine
  For Love that lives a day,
  We gather and entwine.
  All day till Love is dead,
  Till eve falls, cold and gray,
  These blossoms, yours and mine,
  Love wears upon his head,
  Violets and leaves of vine
  We gather and entwine.

  Violets and leaves of vine,
  For Love when poor Love dies
  We gather and entwine.
  This wreath that lives a day
  Over his pale, cold eyes,
  Kissed shut by Proserpine,
  At set of sun we lay:
  Violets and leaves of vine
  We gather and entwine.

© Ernest Christopher Dowson