My Love's An Arbutus

My love's an arbutus

By the borders of Lene,

So slender and shapely

In her girdle of green.

And I measure the pleasure

Of her eye's sapphire sheen

By the blue skies that sparkle

Through the soft branching screen.

But though ruddy the berry

And snowy the flower

That brighten together

The arbutus bower,

Perfuming and blooming

Through sunshine and shower,

Give

me

her bright lips

And her laugh's pearly dower.

Alas! fruit and blossom

Shall scatter the lea,

And Time's jealous fingers

Dim your young charms, Machree.

But unranging, unchanging,

You'll still cling to me,

Like the evergreen leaf

To the arbutus tree.