Thou wast that all to me, love,
For which my soul did pine—
A green isle in the sea, love,
A fountain and a shrine,
All wreathed with fairy fruits and flowers,
And all the flowers were mine.

Ah, dream too bright to last!
Ah, starry Hope! that didst arise
But to be overcast!
A voice from out the Future cries,
"On! on!"—but o'er the Past
(Dim gulf!) my spirit hovering lies
Mute, motionless, aghast!

For, alas! alas! with me
The light of Life is o'er!
"No more—no more—no more"—
(Such language holds the solemn sea
To the sands upon the shore)
Shall bloom the thunder-blasted tree,
Or the stricken eagle soar!

And all my days are trances,
And all my nightly dreams
Are where thy dark eye glances,
And where thy footstep gleams—
In what ethereal dances,
By what eternal streams!

Alas! for that accursed time
They bore thee o'er the billow,
From love to titled age and crime,
And an unholy pillow!
From me, and from our misty clime,
Where weeps the silver willow!

In a town not far from here,
Lived a dame, Alisoun so dear,
Five husbands she had, oh my,
Each one brought her joy, oh why?

Oh, Alisoun, with wit so grand,
Five husbands by your command,
Tales you tell of love and life,
With laughter and a bit of strife!

Once upon a time, they say,
Alisoun met a knight one day,
For his crime, he must repent,
By learning what women want, so spent.

Through woods and fields, they went around,
Seeking truth that must be found,
Women desire sovereignty,
Over their husbands, oh so free.

The knight found a hag, so wise,
Offered her the knight’s prize,
She asked for marriage, bold and true,
The knight, dismayed, what could he do?

They wed, though the knight was scared,
But soon the hag’s wisdom bared,
To his surprise, she turned fair,
Beauty found in love and care.

So here’s to Alisoun, so wise,
With laughter in her bright eyes,
Five husbands taught her well, you see,
In love and life and revelry!

Raise a toast to Alisoun,
With her tales, we all have fun,
In Chaucer’s words, we find delight,
The Wife of Bath, a shining light!