[From Mona's Isle, 1844]

THE MEDWAY’S BANKS.

ON Medway’s banks, when gaily drest
In all their flow’ry hue,
I clasp’d my Mary to my breast,
And bade my cares adieu.

I found her in a homely cot,
Within a woodland vale,
Contented with her humble lot,
Though flower of the dale.

Her youthful charms, her maiden blush,
Her modest air serene,
Like the sweet primrose ‘neath the bush,
Adorn’d the rural scene.

Or like the daisy’s homely form,
Whose cheerful smile doth greet
Alike the piercing winter’s storm,
And summer’s noontide heat.

When in a rural vale in Kent,
I found this lovely flower,
My mind at once was fully bent
To use my utmost power

Soon to transplant her in my heart,
To be my constant care,
And not till death from her to part,
But all her beauties share.

When first my Mary did consent
To be my youthful bride,
My inmost thoughts could not invent
Another wish beside.

The morn was fair, the fields looked gay,
No cloud skimm’d o’er the sky,
When I and Mary bent our way
To bind the nuptial tie.

After a parent’s fervent prayer
To bless our bridal morn,
We to the village did repair,
Through fields of ripening corn,

Towards the church, whose bended roof,
And weather-beaten tower,
Proclaimed forth an ample proof
Of Time’s destroying power.

‘Twas in this church of ancient date,
Whilst young Hope’s pulse beat high,
That we did join our earthly fate
To love until we die!