My love's an arbutusBy the borders of Lene,So slender and shapelyIn her girdle of green;And I measure the pleasureOf her eye's sapphire sheenBy the blue skies that sparkleThrough that soft branching screen.
But though ruddy the berryAnd snowy the flowerThat brighten togetherThe arbutus bower,Perfuming and bloomingThrough sunshine and shower,Give me her bright lipsAnd her laugh's pearly dower.
Alas! fruit and blossomShall scatter the lea,And Time's jealous fingersDim your young charms, machree.But unranging, unchanging,You'll still cling to me,Like an evergreen leafTo the arbutus tree.
