 | Ximena ; or the battle of the Sierra Morena, and other poems |  |
54
TO A FRIEND.
Through the young leaves the moon-rays softly glimmer,
And fall upon the dewy turf below,
Where mellow light, by twining boughs made dimmer,
Sleeps calmly in the streamlet's gentle flow;
And on the heaving breast of yon broad river,
The wave-crests in her silver radiance quiver.
And fall upon the dewy turf below,
Where mellow light, by twining boughs made dimmer,
Sleeps calmly in the streamlet's gentle flow;
And on the heaving breast of yon broad river,
The wave-crests in her silver radiance quiver.
I am alone—in dreamy silence musing,
And Thought to Poesy's realms doth soar in vain;
The classic haunts of loftier song refusing,
To thee it flies, nor wanders forth again—
Returns to thee, as to the ark the raven,
Seeking in vain, a surer, firmer haven.
And Thought to Poesy's realms doth soar in vain;
The classic haunts of loftier song refusing,
To thee it flies, nor wanders forth again—
Returns to thee, as to the ark the raven,
Seeking in vain, a surer, firmer haven.
Oh! dost thou ne'er, from this soft moonlight stealing
Thoughts higher, holier than the day has known,
Wake in thy breast a spring of tender feeling,
As if thou didst some mystic influence own?
As if thy soul some kindred soul was meeting,
And heart to heart a warm response was beating.
Thoughts higher, holier than the day has known,
Wake in thy breast a spring of tender feeling,
As if thou didst some mystic influence own?
As if thy soul some kindred soul was meeting,
And heart to heart a warm response was beating.
55
Does not the calm, the solemn hush around thee
Lift thy thralled spirit from its dust afar,
Break being's chain, in which the day has bound thee,
And wing its angel flight from star to star—
And may no soul like thine, far heavenward soaring,
With thee, unite in wondering and adoring?
Lift thy thralled spirit from its dust afar,
Break being's chain, in which the day has bound thee,
And wing its angel flight from star to star—
And may no soul like thine, far heavenward soaring,
With thee, unite in wondering and adoring?
May not the thoughts, our kindred bosoms swelling—
The lofty hopes that triumph over Time;
Be ours, within the spirit's starry dwelling—
Our earthly love be lasting and sublime?
Yes—ties like these no earthly power can sever;
Born with the soul, they bless the soul forever!
The lofty hopes that triumph over Time;
Be ours, within the spirit's starry dwelling—
Our earthly love be lasting and sublime?
Yes—ties like these no earthly power can sever;
Born with the soul, they bless the soul forever!
Oh! while a pulse of thy young heart doth tremble
With the pure feelings lent thee from on high,
While high aspirings 'round thy soul assemble,
Nor earth can chain thy vision from the sky—
My heart will know it is not all forsaken,
And like an echoed strain, its answering music waken!
With the pure feelings lent thee from on high,
While high aspirings 'round thy soul assemble,
Nor earth can chain thy vision from the sky—
My heart will know it is not all forsaken,
And like an echoed strain, its answering music waken!
| Ximena ; or the battle of the Sierra Morena, and other poems | |