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Home  »  The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse  »  Aubrey Thomas de Vere (1814–1902)

Arthur Quiller-Couch, comp. The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse. 1922.

Song: ‘Seek not the tree of silkiest bark’

Aubrey Thomas de Vere (1814–1902)

SEEK not the tree of silkiest bark

And balmiest bud,

To carve her name while yet ’tis dark

Upon the wood!

The world is full of noble tasks

And wreaths hard won;

Each work demands strong hearts, strong hands,

Till day is done.

Sing not that violet-veinèd skin,

That cheek’s pale roses,

The lily of that form wherein

Her soul reposes!

Forth to the fight, true man! true knight!

The clash of arms

Shall more prevail than whisper’d tale

To win her charms.

The warrior for the True, the Right,

Fights in Love’s name;

The love that lures thee from the fight

Lures thee to shame:

That love which lifts the heart, yet leaves

The spirit free,—

That love, or none, is fit for one

Man-shaped like thee.