Lilian



I
  Airy, Fairy Lilian,
  Flitting, fairy Lilian,
When I ask her if she love me,
Claps her tiny hands above me,
    Laughing all she can;
She 'll not tell me if she love me,
    Cruel little Lilian.

              II
        When my passion seeks
        Pleasance in love-sighs,
    She, looking thro' and thro' me
    Thoroughly to undo me,
        Smiling, never speaks:
So innocent-arch, so cunning-simple,
From beneath her gathered wimple
  Glancing with black-bearded eyes,
Till the lightning laughters dimple
        The baby-roses in her cheeks;
        Then away she flies.

              III
  Prythee weep, May Lilian!
    Gaiety without eclipse
  Whearieth me, May Lilian;
Thro' my every heart it thrilleth
  When from crimson-threaded lips
Silver-treble laughter trilleth:
  Prythee weep, May Lilian!

              IV
      Praying all I can,
If prayers will not hush thee,
      Airy Lilian,
Like a rose-leaf I will crush thee,
      Fairy Lilian.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 21, 2023

41 sec read
118

Quick analysis:

Scheme abbccdcb aefcceggfgef aBhbihiB xdcbcb
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 934
Words 138
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 8, 12, 8, 6

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson, FRS was Poet Laureate of Great Britain and Ireland during much of Queen Victoria's reign and remains one of the most popular British poets.  more…

All Alfred Lord Tennyson poems | Alfred Lord Tennyson Books

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    Repeated use of words for effect and emphasis is called ________.
    A assonance
    B rhythm
    C rhyme
    D repetition