 | [Poems by Cary in] The Poetical Works Of Alice and Phoebe Cary |  |
I CANNOT TELL.
Once, being charmèd by thy smile,
And listening to thy praises, such
As women, hearing all the while,
I think could never hear too much,—
And listening to thy praises, such
As women, hearing all the while,
I think could never hear too much,—
I had a pleasing fantasy
Of souls that meet, and meeting blend,
And hearing that same dream from thee,
I said I loved thee, O my friend!
Of souls that meet, and meeting blend,
And hearing that same dream from thee,
I said I loved thee, O my friend!
That was the flood-tide of my youth,
And now its calm waves backward flow;
I cannot tell if it were truth,
If what I feel be love, or no.
And now its calm waves backward flow;
I cannot tell if it were truth,
If what I feel be love, or no.
My days and nights pass pleasantly,
Serenely on my seasons glide,
And though I think and dream of thee,
I dream of many things beside.
Serenely on my seasons glide,
And though I think and dream of thee,
I dream of many things beside.
Most eagerly thy praise is sought,
'T is sweet to meet, and sad to part;
But all my best and deepest thought
Is hidden from thee in my heart.
'T is sweet to meet, and sad to part;
But all my best and deepest thought
Is hidden from thee in my heart.
And still the while a charm or spell
Half holds, and will not let me go;
'T is strange, and yet I cannot tell
If what I feel be love, or no!
Half holds, and will not let me go;
'T is strange, and yet I cannot tell
If what I feel be love, or no!
| [Poems by Cary in] The Poetical Works Of Alice and Phoebe Cary | |