O somewhere, meek unconscious dove, That sittest ranging golden hair; And glad to find thyself so fair Poor child, that waitest for thy love! For no… - Alfred Tennyson

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O somewhere, meek unconscious dove,
That sittest ranging golden hair;
And glad to find thyself so fair
Poor child, that waitest for thy love!

For now her father's chimney glows
In expectation of a guest;
And thinking 'this will please him best,'
She takes a riband or a rose;

For he will see them on to-night;
And with the thought her colour burns;
And, having left the glass, she turns
Once more to set a ringlet right;

And, even when she turn'd, the curse
Had fallen, and her future Lord
Was drown'd in passing thro' the ford,
Or kill'd in falling from his horse,

O what to her shall be the end?
And what to me remains of good?
To her, perpetual maidenhood,
And unto me no second friend.