| Arthur Quiller-Couch, comp. The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse. 1922. | | | | Youth and Maidenhood | | By Sarah Williams (1837–1868) |
| | | LIKE a drop of water is my heart | |
| Laid upon her soft and rosy palm, | |
| Turn’d whichever way her hand doth turn, | |
| Trembling in an ecstasy of calm. | |
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| Like a broken rose-leaf is my heart, | 5 |
| Held within her close and burning clasp, | |
| Breathing only dying sweetness out, | |
| Withering beneath the fatal grasp. | |
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| Like a vapoury cloudlet is my heart, | |
| Growing into beauty near the sun, | 10 |
| Gaining rainbow hues in her embrace, | |
| Melting into tears when it is done. | |
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| Like mine own dear harp is this my heart, | |
| Dumb without the hand that sweeps its strings; | |
| Tho’ the hand be careless or be cruel, | 15 |
| When it comes my heart breaks forth and sings. | | | | |
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