On Raglan Road

On Raglan Road on an autumn day I saw her first and knew

That her dark hair would weave a snare that I might one day rue

I saw the danger and I passed along the enchanted way

And I said let grief be a fallen leaf at the dawning of the day

On Grafton Street in November we tripped lightly along the ledge

Of the deep ravine where can be seen the worth of passions pledge

The Queen of Hearts still making tarts and I not making hay

Oh, I love too much and by such, by such is happiness thrown away

I gave her gifts of the mind I gave her the secret sign

That's known to the artists who have known the true gods of sound and stone

And words and tint I did not stint, I gave her poems to say

With her own name there and her own dark hair like clouds over the fields of May

On a quiet street where old ghosts meet, I see her walking now

Away from me so hurriedly my reason must allow

That I had loved not as I should a creature made of clay

When the angel woos the clay he'd lose his wings at the dawn of day