James Joyce: 2 Poems

James Joyce

(1882-1941)

 

Lightly Come or Lightly Go

 

Lightly come or lightly go:

Though thy heart presage thee woe,

Vales and many a wasted sun,

Oread let thy laughter run,

Till the irreverent mountain air

Ripple all thy flying hair.

 

Lightly, lightly — – ever so:

Clouds that wrap the vales below

At the hour of evenstar

Lowliest attendants are;

Love and laughter song-confessed

When the heart is heaviest.

 

 

Silently She’s Combing

 

Silently she’s combing,

Combing her long hair

Silently and graciously,

With many a pretty air.

 

The sun is in the willow leaves

And on the dappled grass,

And still she’s combing her long hair

Before the looking-glass.

 

I pray you, cease to comb out,

Comb out your long hair,

For I have heard of witchery

Under a pretty air,

 

That makes as one thing to the lover

Staying and going hence,

All fair, with many a pretty air

And many a negligence.

James Joyce poetry

kempis poetry magazine

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