Chips, fragments and vestiges by Gail Hamilton collected and arranged by H. Augusta Dodge |
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TO JOSE BARDOTTEE |
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 | Chips, fragments and vestiges by Gail Hamilton |  |
56
TO JOSE BARDOTTEE
WRITTEN FOR---
Full many a moon has waxed and waned;
Full many a spring has flown;
Full many an Autumn's “yellow leaf”
And sighing wind have gone;
Full many a year has passed away,
With light and shadow fraught,
Since last I gazed upon thy face,
My beautiful Bardottee.
Full many a spring has flown;
Full many an Autumn's “yellow leaf”
And sighing wind have gone;
Full many a year has passed away,
With light and shadow fraught,
Since last I gazed upon thy face,
My beautiful Bardottee.
How strangely, wildly throbs my heart;
How thrillingly arise
Visions of bygone youthful scenes,
Before my tearful eyes.
Ah! visions of those early days,
Which will not be forgot,
Thy name, upon my lips, recalls
Thy name, my own Bardottee.
How thrillingly arise
Visions of bygone youthful scenes,
Before my tearful eyes.
Ah! visions of those early days,
Which will not be forgot,
Thy name, upon my lips, recalls
Thy name, my own Bardottee.
I stand again amid the Past;
I see my own loved home;
I see upon the rock-based hill
The old church's lofty dome;
I see the quiet shady walks,
Each dear familiar spot
Where I was wont to rove with thee,
My raven-haired Bardottee.
I see my own loved home;
I see upon the rock-based hill
The old church's lofty dome;
I see the quiet shady walks,
Each dear familiar spot
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My raven-haired Bardottee.
Then! then the spring to me was fair,
The summer days looked bright,
I gazed on Autumn's loveliness,
Nor saddened at the sight.
I feared not Winter's wreathing snow
His blasts could harm me not,
'Twas light and love if thou wert there,
My sunny-eyed Bardottee.
The summer days looked bright,
I gazed on Autumn's loveliness,
Nor saddened at the sight.
I feared not Winter's wreathing snow
His blasts could harm me not,
'Twas light and love if thou wert there,
My sunny-eyed Bardottee.
A change has come. The dreams of youth
Have vanished quite away.
Bright hopes and high imaginings,
They cheered me but a day.
But life—life real, stern, and cold,
Hath ever vainly sought
To tear thy image from my heart,
My noble-browed Bardottee.
Have vanished quite away.
Bright hopes and high imaginings,
They cheered me but a day.
But life—life real, stern, and cold,
Hath ever vainly sought
To tear thy image from my heart,
My noble-browed Bardottee.
On fair Italia's vineclad realms
Thy feet were wont to roam.
Beneath her gorgeous, glorious skies
Was placed thy sunlit home.
The beauties of that classic shore,
On which was cast thy lot,
Were wreathen with thy very life,
My gentle-souled Bardottee.
Thy feet were wont to roam.
Beneath her gorgeous, glorious skies
Was placed thy sunlit home.
The beauties of that classic shore,
On which was cast thy lot,
Were wreathen with thy very life,
My gentle-souled Bardottee.
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Farewell! I may not longer gaze
Upon the pictured Past.
Too thrilling, powerful the glance
Thus casually cast.
In vain! in vain! it cannot be—
Thou art not quite forgot;
Thy memory must aye remain,
My loved, long-lost Bardottee.
Upon the pictured Past.
Too thrilling, powerful the glance
Thus casually cast.
In vain! in vain! it cannot be—
Thou art not quite forgot;
Thy memory must aye remain,
My loved, long-lost Bardottee.
| Chips, fragments and vestiges by Gail Hamilton | |