Outlaws

Nora Hopper Chesson

1871 to 1906

Poem Image

We are working on musical arrangements of Outlaws by Nora Hopper Chesson and they will be published on a date yet to be decided.

Six good years of sweetness in the greenwood shaw. 
Sweetness plucked and eaten, spite of God and law. 
Six good years of loving under sun and rain — 
Now that law has spoken and not six hours remain. 
What have we to gird at, now the end is here? 
Law nor God can take from us those six years, my Dear. 

God indeed was kind to us, kinder than we knew. 
For we found forbidden fruit sweetness through and through. 
Hazel-nuts were brown for us, blackberries were sweet, 
Little brooks called pleasantly to our homeless feet. 
Nought we cared though on our track hound and bugle cried: 
Six years long the shaw itself fought upon Love's side. 

Glad am I of every sun that we saw arise, 
Leaves that matched your russet hair, flowers that matched your eyes: 
Glad am I of every sun that we watched go down. 
Frost that made the meadows white and the king-fern brown. 
Glad am I of nights and days full of quick alarms, 
Winds and rains that made you lie closer in my arms. 

Winds could never come between in the wildest weather: 
Desperate days and hunted nights we found sweet together. 
Rain and hail were good to us, and the leaping thunder, 
Not a sign in all the sky put our arms asunder. 

Nora Hopper Chesson's Outlaws

We are busy working to bring Nora Hopper Chesson's "Outlaws" to life through our unique musical arrangements and will have a full analysis of the poem here for you soon.

At V2Melody, each arrangement is crafted with care through a thoughtful partnership of human artistry and technological innovation. This process involves:

  • Deep analysis of the poem's rhythm, structure, and emotional essence
  • Careful selection of musical styles that enhance the poem's unique voice
  • 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.

While you wait for our complete interpretation, we invite you to explore other musical arrangements in our gallery or learn more about Nora Hopper Chesson's life and contributions to literature.

Check back soon to experience how "Outlaws" transforms when verse meets melody—a unique journey that makes poetry accessible, engaging, and profoundly moving in new ways.

Create a Cloze Exercise

Click the button below to print a cloze exercise of the poem critique. This exercise is designed for classroom use.