The Betrothal

There was a little pause between the dances;
    Without, somewhere, a tinkling fountain played.
The dusky path was lit by ardent glances
    As forth they fared, a lover and a maid.
He chose a nook, from curious eyes well hidden -
    All redolent with sweet midsummer charm,
And by the great primeval instinct bidden,
    He drew her in the shelter of his arm.
The words that long deep in his heart had trembled
Found sudden utterance; she at first dissembled,
    Refused her lips, and half withdrew her hand,
Then murmured "Yes," and yielded, woman fashion,
Her virgin mouth to young love's kiss of passion.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Ella Wheeler Wilcox was an American author and poet, born on November 5, 1850, and died on October 30, 1919. She was known for her works expressing optimistic views and moral lessons. Her most famous book was 'Poems of Passion'. Her poem 'Solitude' contains the famous lines, 'Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone'. Over her career, Wilcox became popularly known as a 'people's poet'.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

At The Hop

Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Simple Poetry

Life's Opera

Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Simple Poetry

Secrets.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Simple Poetry

All For Me.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Simple Poetry

English

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Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

The Bridal Kiss

As fleecy clouds trail back across the skies,
    Showing the sweet young moon in azure space,
    The lifted veil revealed her shining face -
A sudden wonder to his eager eyes.
In that familiar beauty lurked surprise:
    For now the wife stood in the maiden's place -
    With conscious dignity, and woman's grace,
And love's large pride grown trebly fair and wise.

The world receded, leaving them alone.
    The universe was theirs, from sphere to sphere,
And life assumed new meaning, and new worth.
Love held no privilege they did not own,
    And when they kissed each other without fear,
They understood why God had made the earth.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Five Kisses

I - THE MOTHER'S KISS

Love breathed a secret to her listening heart,
    And said "Be silent."    Though she guarded it,
And dwelt as one within a world apart,
    Yet sun and star seemed by that secret lit.
And where she passed, each whispering wind ablow,
    And every little blossom in the sod,
Called joyously to her, "We know, we know,
    For are we not the intimates of God?"
Life grew so radiant, and so opulent,
    That when her fragile body and her brain
By mortal throes of agony were rent,
    She felt a curious rapture in her pain.
Then, after anguish, came the supreme bliss -
They brought the little baby, for her kiss!

II - THE BETROTHAL

There was a little pause between the dances;
    Without, somewhere, a tinkling fountain p...

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Only A Slight Flirtation

'Twas just a slight flirtation,
    And where's the harm, I pray,
In that amusing pastime
    So much in vogue to-day?

Her hand was plighted elsewhere
    To one she held most dear,
But why should she sit lonely
    When other men were near?

They walked to church together,
    They sat upon the shore.
She found him entertaining,
    He found her something more.

They rambled in the moonlight;
    It made her look so fair.
She let him praise her beauty,
    And kiss her flowing hair.

'Twas just a nice flirtation.
    'So sad the fellow died.
Was drowned one day while boating,
    The week she was a bride.'

A life went out in darkness,
    A mother's fond heart broke,
A maiden pined in secret -
    ...

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

The Tryst

Just when all hope had perished in my soul,
And balked desire made havoc with my mind,
My cruel Ladye suddenly grew kind,
And sent these gracious words upon a scroll:
"When knowing Night her dusky scarf has tied
Across the bold, intrusive eyes of day,
Come as a glad, triumphant lover may,
No longer fearing that he be denied."

I read her letter for the hundredth time,
And for the hundredth time my gladdened sight
Blurred with the rapture of my vast delight,
And swooned upon the page. I caught the chime
Of far off bells, and at each silver note
My heart on tiptoe pressed its eager ear
Against my breast; it was such joy to hear
The tolling of the hour of which she wrote.

The curious day still lingered in the skies
And watched me as I hastened to ...

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

The Story.

They met each other in the glade -
    She lifted up her eyes;
Alack the day! Alack the maid!
    She blushed in swift surprise.
Alas! alas! the woe that comes from lifting up the eyes.

The pail was full, the path was steep -
    He reached to her his hand;
She felt her warm young pulses leap,
    But did not understand.
Alas! alas! the woe that comes from clasping hand with hand.

She sat beside him in the wood -
    He wooed with words and sighs;
Ah! love in spring seems sweet and good,
    And maidens are not wise.
Alas! alas! the woe that comes from listing lovers' sighs.

The summer sun shone fairly down,
    The wind blew from the south;
As blue eyes gazed in eyes of brown,
    His kiss fell on her mouth.
Alas! alas! the wo...

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

At The Bridal

Oh! but the bride was lovely,
    Oh! but the scene was bright,
And why was the bridegroom's face as pale
    As his lady's robe of white?

Did you not see beside him
    A guest unasked, unbid?
Who came up the aisle with silent feet
    And gazed at him? he did!

He saw her eyes upon him,
    He felt her icy breath;
And under the bride's warm clinging hand
    There crept the touch of death.

And above the low responses
    There fell upon his ear
A voice forbidding the nuptial banns;
    But no one else could hear.

And when the ring was given,
    And when the prayer was said,
He knew, as he led his bride away,
    That he was not truly wed.

And while they sat at the banquet,
    And mirth flowed like the w...

Ella Wheeler Wilcox