Were I thy bride, <br />Then the whole world beside <br />Were not too wide <br />To hold my wealth of love - <br />Were I thy bride! <br />Upon thy breast <br />My loving head would rest, <br />As on her nest <br />The tender turtle-dove - <br />Were I thy bride! <br /> <br />This heart of mine <br />Would be one heart with thine, <br />And in that shrine <br />Our happiness would dwell - <br />Were I thy bride! <br />And all day long <br />Our lives should be a song: <br />No grief, no wrong <br />Should make my heart rebel - <br />Were I thy bride! <br /> <br />The silvery flute, <br />The melancholy lute, <br />Were night-owl's hoot <br />To my low-whispered coo - <br />Were I thy bride! <br />The skylark's trill <br />Were but discordance shrill <br />To the soft thrill <br />Of wooing as I'd woo - <br />Were I thy bride! <br /> <br />The rose's sigh <br />Were as a carrion's cry <br />To lullaby <br />Such as I'd sing to thee - <br />Were I thy bride! <br />A feather's press <br />Were leaden heaviness <br />To my caress. <br />But then, unhappily, <br />I'm not thy bride!<br /><br />William Schwenck Gilbert<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-mirage/
