I'll make you a corsage

Of Chantilly lace

Comfrey and eyebright

And reeds from the lake

And tie it with cambric

Before you awake

Upon your heart sleeping

This precious keepsake

From here the land's edge

Is a scrawl on the sea

It writes and unwrites itself

Tirelessly

And I, in the eaves

On my eiderdown seat

See riddles and rhymes

Where your words ought to be

And the green-fingered lady

Who longed, longed me to stay

Made all the roses wither away

And smoke, lilac footed

As I climbed, climbed the gate

And reams of clouds hid me

As I made my escape

It was autumn, autumn

How long did I sleep?

The moon-coloured waters

They whispered your name

And said with her carriage

The deep snows came

And she kissed you and bound you

With icicle chains

Made winter your lodge

And gave frost to your veins

From here the land lies

Like a mast on the sea

It rises and banks

And it confuses me

And I, in the eaves

On my eiderdown seat

See riddles and rhymes

Where your words ought to be

The ice-shouldered Queen

Who vowed, vowed you'd remain

Made all the roses

Wither in spring

And from the snow palace

I'll steal you away

And my tears will make

Your poor heart bloom again

Like roses