 | Miami Woods : a golden wedding and other poems |  |
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6. Part Sixth.
1853.
A year ago—a little year ago—
How long I lingered in these quiet haunts!
The earth was ne'er more beautiful than then,
Day darkened into night so peacefully,
And night so freshly brightened into day:
But storm and darkness pass'd upon the scene,
And swept it like a scourge. A year ago,
A little year ago, the stricken one
From scattering shadows look'd out on that earth,
And brightened in its beauty. Her young heart
And mine took lesson of the night and day,
And pass'd like them each into either's depths:
But storm and darkness visit not the earth
Alone, to desolate and to destroy;
They fall upon the human heart as well,
And sweep it also like a deadly scourge.
How long I lingered in these quiet haunts!
The earth was ne'er more beautiful than then,
Day darkened into night so peacefully,
And night so freshly brightened into day:
But storm and darkness pass'd upon the scene,
And swept it like a scourge. A year ago,
A little year ago, the stricken one
From scattering shadows look'd out on that earth,
And brightened in its beauty. Her young heart
And mine took lesson of the night and day,
And pass'd like them each into either's depths:
But storm and darkness visit not the earth
Alone, to desolate and to destroy;
They fall upon the human heart as well,
And sweep it also like a deadly scourge.
1.
I had a little sprite whose name was Hope—It sang glad songs into my eager ear;
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And now its songs are still'd forevermore—
Forevermore.
2.
I heard a voice, born of my human love,Speak to my human weakness words of joy;
Each was as sweet as sounds of dulcimers,
But all are silent now forevermore—
Forevermore.
3.
I held within my own a little hand,White as the moon, and it became as cold;
I pressed it to my lips in agony;
'T was then withdrawn—withdrawn forevermore—
Forevermore.
4.
I've worn a faded lily on my breastThese many days, these many weary days;
But now, by unseen fingers touch'd, it falls,
It falls away, and falls forevermore—
Forevermore.
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5.
I held a beautiful and precious gemAgainst my beating heart, for many a year;
But while most cherished it hath turn'd to dust,
And here I lay it down forevermore—
Forevermore.
Oh, many are the sweet and gentle flowers,
Caught by untimely frosts, that droop and die
Ere half their beauty has disclosed itself:
The dews of evening and the stars of night
Watch o'er and weep for them, and kindly airs
Bear them to earth, and lay them in repose.
And many are the pure and gentle hearts,
Untimely touched by Death, that render up
The hopes and promises of opening life
Without a murmur, and go calmly down,
Along the way of shadows, to the grave.
And such an one has just been laid to rest,
Here, where the hectic leaf of autumn falls
And strews the fresh-heap'd earth, and where the pale
And perishing blossoms of the year lie low.
Caught by untimely frosts, that droop and die
Ere half their beauty has disclosed itself:
The dews of evening and the stars of night
Watch o'er and weep for them, and kindly airs
Bear them to earth, and lay them in repose.
And many are the pure and gentle hearts,
Untimely touched by Death, that render up
The hopes and promises of opening life
Without a murmur, and go calmly down,
Along the way of shadows, to the grave.
And such an one has just been laid to rest,
Here, where the hectic leaf of autumn falls
And strews the fresh-heap'd earth, and where the pale
And perishing blossoms of the year lie low.
1.
Birds of the greenwood groves, and sunny meads!Whose voices ever fill'd her with delight,
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Come from the thicket's edge where berries hang,
Come from each airy perch and favorite haunt,
And from your sweet and ever-plaintive throats
Pour forth, in soft and melancholy staves,
A dirge above the loved and early lost!
2.
Winds of the spring-time! ye that bear the soundsOf far-off murmurs on your dewy wings,
And steal a cadence from the running brook,
That rob the insect of its hum, and catch
The harp's last note, still trembling on the strings,
Pause here a little while, above this grave,
And in the tenderest tones of all, breathe out
A requiem for the loved and early lost.
3.
Light breezes of the summer! wandering far,Combine in one the many sounds of grief
Ye gather in your long and lonely way,
And wed with them all sounds of earth and air
Too sorrowful for other company,
And murmur them at morn and eventide,
And in the hush of noon, above the spot
Where sleeps in death the loved and early lost!
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4.
Soft, sighing gales of autumn! from the brownAnd melancholy meadows, from the gloom
Of rocky caverns, from the plaining woods,
That mourn the hectic leaf and fading flower,
From deepest hollows and from highest hills,
Bring all the soft, sweet voices that are born,
And pour the saddest plaint that ever yet
Was uttered for the loved and early lost!
| Miami Woods : a golden wedding and other poems | |