 | Fragments and Fancies |  |
WHAT SHALL BE MISSED?
The Dove—the fond, fond turtle Dove—
What truth dwells in her breast;
Oh! what a Shrine of perfect Love
Must be her hallowed nest.
What truth dwells in her breast;
Oh! what a Shrine of perfect Love
Must be her hallowed nest.
Lovingly plies she her sweet care
Midst the deep greenwood shades—
And Love's own brightest Star shines there,
The Star that never fades!
Midst the deep greenwood shades—
And Love's own brightest Star shines there,
The Star that never fades!
47
The Lark—the glad rejoicing Lark—
He makes the Sky his own,
And soars from Earth the dim and dark,
And mounts as to a throne!
He makes the Sky his own,
And soars from Earth the dim and dark,
And mounts as to a throne!
Heaven, Earth, and Air, resounding ring
With his triumphant strain;
Then who can think of such a thing
As Sorrow—or as Pain?
With his triumphant strain;
Then who can think of such a thing
As Sorrow—or as Pain?
The Rose shines forth in splendour bright—
Fairest of flowers that blow—
It is a rich and rare delight
To gaze on that red glow!
Fairest of flowers that blow—
It is a rich and rare delight
To gaze on that red glow!
The Queen of gardens and of bowers,
She reigns with tenderest sway;
And all the radiant tribe of flowers
To her must homage pay.
She reigns with tenderest sway;
And all the radiant tribe of flowers
To her must homage pay.
48
The dew drop sparkles on the leaf
Ere yet its life is o'er;
For fragile is that Life, and brief—
A moment—and no more!
Ere yet its life is o'er;
For fragile is that Life, and brief—
A moment—and no more!
But oh! thou gentle turtle dove,
Ere long must thou depart;
And who shall miss the perfect love
That heaves thy little heart?
Ere long must thou depart;
And who shall miss the perfect love
That heaves thy little heart?
And Lark! rejoicing rapturous bird,
When Death shall be thy share—
When thy deep song no more is heard,
Shalt thou be missed in air?
When Death shall be thy share—
When thy deep song no more is heard,
Shalt thou be missed in air?
Rose! loveliest, sweetest of all flowers,
When thou hast drooped and died,
Shalt thou be mourned for in the bowers,
With all thy bloom and pride?
When thou hast drooped and died,
Shalt thou be mourned for in the bowers,
With all thy bloom and pride?
49
Bright dewdrop!—when the next fair spring
Calls forth each flower that blows,
Shalt thou be needed, then to fling
Sweet coolness o'er their brows?
Calls forth each flower that blows,
Shalt thou be needed, then to fling
Sweet coolness o'er their brows?
Nothing is missed—and nothing mourned—
Soon is filled up the place
Of all that once the Earth adorned—
While race succeeds to race.
Soon is filled up the place
Of all that once the Earth adorned—
While race succeeds to race.
Whole tribes of turtle Doves shall pour
Their souls on love away,
Feeling as thou hast felt before—
Thou feel'st, sweet bird—to-day!
Their souls on love away,
Feeling as thou hast felt before—
Thou feel'st, sweet bird—to-day!
Thousands of larks shall mount as high,
And sing a strain as clear,
And weave as rich a harmony
As thine—which now I hear.
And sing a strain as clear,
And weave as rich a harmony
As thine—which now I hear.
50
Thousands of joyous larks shall spring
To where Morn's sunbeams shine—
Upon as strong and free a wing—
With hearts as light as thine.
To where Morn's sunbeams shine—
Upon as strong and free a wing—
With hearts as light as thine.
Scores of bright roses shall unfold
And blush with crimson glow,
When thou dost thy rich smile withhold,
Sweet Rose! so radiant now.
And blush with crimson glow,
When thou dost thy rich smile withhold,
Sweet Rose! so radiant now.
Myriads of dew drops yet shall shine,
Like studs of sunny light,
With sparkling brilliancy like thine,
Fair dew drop—now so bright!
Like studs of sunny light,
With sparkling brilliancy like thine,
Fair dew drop—now so bright!
Love—Beauty—Music—Purity—
These things shall ever last;
These things shall never, never die,
For them there is no Past!
These things shall ever last;
These things shall never, never die,
For them there is no Past!
51
And oh! 'twould be a wretched thing
If these indeed could pass,
Like Earth's frail children withering—
But they are of loftier class!
If these indeed could pass,
Like Earth's frail children withering—
But they are of loftier class!
They still shall last—and they shall live,
Though all around them die—
Their mortal tenements survive
And light the Eternity!
Though all around them die—
Their mortal tenements survive
And light the Eternity!
The Lark may die, who sweetly sung,
For him shall Day grow dim,
But though that living Lyre's unstrung,
Music dies not with him!
For him shall Day grow dim,
But though that living Lyre's unstrung,
Music dies not with him!
This Rose shall fade, which hues of Light
On all seems to confer,
But though she bear decay's dull blight,
Beauty dies not with her!
On all seems to confer,
But though she bear decay's dull blight,
Beauty dies not with her!
52
The dew drop may be quickly dried
Beneath Noon's flaming sky—
But though no more with that allied,
Purity shall not die!
Beneath Noon's flaming sky—
But though no more with that allied,
Purity shall not die!
Death will smite sore the turtle Dove—
And still her throbbing heart;
But the everlasting Soul of Love
Shall ne'er from Earth depart!
And still her throbbing heart;
But the everlasting Soul of Love
Shall ne'er from Earth depart!
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