On Raglan Road

On Raglan Road, on an Autumn day I saw her first and knew
That her dark hair would weave a snare that I might some day rue
I saw the danger, yet I passed along the enchanted way
And I said, «let grief be a fallen leaf at the dawning of the day»
And I said, «let grief be a fallen leaf at the dawning of the day»
On Grafton Street in November, we tripped lightly along the ledge
Of a deep ravine, where can be seen the worth of passion’s pledge
The Queen of Hearts still making tarts, and I not making hay
Oh, I loved too much, and by such, by such is happiness thrown away
I loved too much, and by such, by such is happiness thrown away
I gave her gifts of the mind, I gave her the secret sign
That’s a-known to artists who have known true gods of sound and stone
And word and tint without stint for I gave her poems to say
With her own name there and her own dark hair
Like clouds o’er fields of May
On a quiet street, where old ghosts meet, I see her walking now
Away from me so hurriedly, my reason must allow
That I have loved not as I should a creature made of clay
When the Angel woos the clay, he’ll lose his wings at the dawn of day