Cornish Lament

Nora Hopper Chesson

1871 to 1906

Poem Image
Track 1

Reconstruct the poem by dragging each line into its correct position. Your goal is to reassemble the original poem as accurately as possible. As you move the lines, you'll see whether your arrangement is correct, helping you explore the poem's flow and meaning. You can also print out the jumbled poem to cut up and reassemble in the classroom. Either way, take your time, enjoy the process, and discover how the poet's words come together to create something truly beautiful.

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My door unlatched for you. 
I found no words to say, 
Fair head, come home to me!" 
Only, when lights at sea 
Fair head, come home to me. 
When the sea took my own,
Dipping my hands therein. 
For lover lost to me. 
Show boats not dear to me, 
Whispering as now I do, 
No moan where men could see 
Only, when star to star
Fair head, come home to me! 
Then to the sea I lean — 
Low to the sea — and you, 
Meg wept where all might see, 
Watching you sail away. 
Nay, but I made no moan 
Home from the jealous sea, 
Gulls cried the livelong day — 
Lad, when you sailed away
Door and heart open be — 
Long weeks I've watched for you,
"Drowned and dead though you be, 
Gleams where the rock-pools are — 
"Fair head, come home to me." 
Meg cried, "Shame on the sea, 
Fair head, come home to me!" 
Then am I free to cry. 
Up to the watching sky.