Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume II. Love. 1904. | | | | VII. Love’s Power | | Charlie Machree | | William J. Hoppin (1813–1895) |
| | | COME over, come over | |
| The river to me, | |
| If ye are my laddie, | |
| Bold Charlie machree. | |
| |
| Here ’s Mary McPherson | 5 |
| And Susy O’Linn, | |
| Who say ye ’re faint-hearted, | |
| And darena plunge in. | |
| |
| But the dark rolling water, | |
| Though deep as the sea, | 10 |
| I know willna scare ye, | |
| Nor keep ye frae me; | |
| |
| For stout is yer back, | |
| And strong is yer arm, | |
| And the heart in yer bosom | 15 |
| Is faithful and warm. | |
| |
| Come over, come over | |
| The river to me, | |
| If ye are my laddie, | |
| Bold Charlie machree! | 20 |
| |
| I see him, I see him! | |
| He ’s plunged in the tide, | |
| His strong arms are dashing | |
| The big waves aside. | |
| |
| O, the dark rolling water | 25 |
| Shoots swift as the sea, | |
| But blithe is the glance | |
| Of his bonny blue ee. | |
| |
| And his cheeks are like roses, | |
| Twa buds on a bough; | 30 |
| Who says ye ’re faint-hearted, | |
| My brave Charlie, now? | |
| |
| Ho, ho, foaming river, | |
| Ye may roar as ye go, | |
| But ye canna bear Charlie | 35 |
| To the dark loch below! | |
| |
| Come over, come over | |
| The river to me, | |
| My true-hearted laddie, | |
| My Charlie machree! | 40 |
| |
| He ’s sinking, he ’s sinking, | |
| O, what shall I do! | |
| Strike out, Charlie, boldly, | |
| Ten strokes and ye ’re thro’! | |
| |
| He ’s sinking, O Heaven! | 45 |
| Ne’er fear, man, ne’er fear; | |
| I ’ve a kiss for ye, Charlie, | |
| As soon as ye ’re here! | |
| |
| He rises, I see him,— | |
| Five strokes, Charlie, mair,— | 50 |
| He ’s shaking the wet | |
| From his bonny brown hair; | |
| |
| He conquers the current, | |
| He gains on the sea,— | |
| Ho, where is the swimmer | 55 |
| Like Charlie machree? | |
| |
| Come over the river, | |
| But once come to me, | |
| And I ’ll love ye forever, | |
| Dear Charlie machree! | 60 |
| |
| He ’s sinking, he ’s gone,— | |
| O God! it is I, | |
| It is I, who have killed him— | |
| Help, help!—he must die! | |
| |
| Help, help!—ah, he rises,— | 65 |
| Strike out and ye ’re free! | |
| Ho, bravely done, Charlie, | |
| Once more now, for me! | |
| |
| Now cling to the rock, | |
| Now gie us yer hand,— | 70 |
| Ye ’re safe, dearest Charlie, | |
| Ye ’re safe on the land! | |
| |
| Come rest in my bosom, | |
| If there ye can sleep; | |
| I canna speak to ye, | 75 |
| I only can weep. | |
| |
| Ye ’ve crossed the wild river, | |
| Ye ’ve risked all for me, | |
| And I ’ll part frae ye never, | |
| Dear Charlie machree! | 80 | | | |
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