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