Guinevere
Nora Hopper Chesson
1871 to 1906
Amid the blossoms of the whitethorn wood,
flower of all flowers, in Arthur's dream she stood,
No lily, but a rose of womanhood.
Gold veil blown backward from her golden hair,
Green-clad like young leaves in the April air:
Too fair the dream is, Arthur: deadly fair!
Yet thou shalt have the rose awhile to hold,
But for its sweetness' sake thy hearth grows cold —
Thy sword is rusted all for hair of gold!
How should he dream of sorrow, shame, or fear,
So loud the birds sang round the magic mere
Whose lightest ripple whispered " Guinevere! "
How should he dream of grief who dreams of love?
Or guess how sore the cage shall fret his dove
When she grows weary of the gold thereof?
Dream: it is good to dream when day is young —
Thy Queen shall dream another wood among
When love has loosed the bonds on Lancelot's tongue.
Dream: as in Avalon (if oaths hold good)
To-day thou dreamest of her as she stood
Among the blossoms of the whitethorn wood.
Dream: I, too, dream who saw but yesterday
Queen Guinevere among the blossomed may,
A rose, a rose that shall not fade away.
Not fade, nor fail, but quicken still men's blood
In an uncourtly age, a lighter mood —
A rose that blossoms in a whitethorn wood.
Nora Hopper Chesson's Guinevere
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- Deep analysis of the poem's rhythm, structure, and emotional essence
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- Balancing traditional poetic expression with contemporary sound landscapes
- Multiple revisions to ensure the arrangement honors the poet's original vision
This creative journey takes time—each composition represents hours of dedicated work to create something that deepens our connection to Nora Hopper Chesson's words in meaningful ways.
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