[The lovers, in] Putnam's monthly A Magazine of Literature, Science, and Art. Vol. II. - September 1853. - No. IX |
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 | [The lovers, in] Putnam's monthly |  |
269
THE LOVERS.
[I]
I watch their mien of trembling joy,
Their glance, with timid secrets laden:
He is a rosy village boy,
And she a graceful village maiden.
Their glance, with timid secrets laden:
He is a rosy village boy,
And she a graceful village maiden.
His proud look hints, her blushes tell,
What bliss begins when school-time closes;
He shielded her when snowflakes fell,
And now 'tis almost time for roses.
What bliss begins when school-time closes;
He shielded her when snowflakes fell,
And now 'tis almost time for roses.
Have lips yet given voice to heart?
I know not—but each day shows clearer
How conscious blushes draw apart
The steps resistless Love draws nearer.
I know not—but each day shows clearer
How conscious blushes draw apart
The steps resistless Love draws nearer.
Their world is changed; historic names
For her are shrunk to merest zero;
And poet-loves and novel-fames
Are poor beside the living hero.
For her are shrunk to merest zero;
And poet-loves and novel-fames
Are poor beside the living hero.
For him—all sweets of earth and air,
The softest breath of soft May morning,
Too coarse, too harsh, too common are
To match that girlish beauty's dawning.
The softest breath of soft May morning,
Too coarse, too harsh, too common are
To match that girlish beauty's dawning.
The walk upon enchanted ground;
The school, the street, are lands elysian;
A song of spheres is every sound;
Each glance a beatific vision.
The school, the street, are lands elysian;
A song of spheres is every sound;
Each glance a beatific vision.
O Teacher, sage! in vain you pore
O'er black-boards wide, with science laden;
The blindfold boy lends deeper lore
To village youth and village maiden.
O'er black-boards wide, with science laden;
The blindfold boy lends deeper lore
To village youth and village maiden.
O Time! secure these children's dreams
From ills that darken and destroy us,
And make life all that now it seems,
As full, as fresh, as pure, as joyous.
From ills that darken and destroy us,
And make life all that now it seems,
As full, as fresh, as pure, as joyous.
II.
How soft the May-time hours steal on;
The merry school girls laugh and call;
Sweet sing the birds; elm-blossoms fall;
The violets come; but he is gone.
The merry school girls laugh and call;
Sweet sing the birds; elm-blossoms fall;
The violets come; but he is gone.
Those steps that each to each did cling,
Are parted by a wider space;
And long from that slight girlish face
Has autumn dried the tears of spring.
Are parted by a wider space;
And long from that slight girlish face
Has autumn dried the tears of spring.
How calmly flows the tide of time
O'er all the wealth of smiles and dreams,
And its forgotten beauty seems
To live but in my careless rhyme.
O'er all the wealth of smiles and dreams,
And its forgotten beauty seems
To live but in my careless rhyme.
Yet not in grief the end is told,
Death closed the tale and left it pure,
With no dark chances to endure
Of withered joys or love grown cold.
Death closed the tale and left it pure,
With no dark chances to endure
Of withered joys or love grown cold.
Who knows what gathering dangers died
When those clear eyes were closed to earth,
And what now dreams and deeds had birth
When the new mystery opened wide!
When those clear eyes were closed to earth,
And what now dreams and deeds had birth
When the new mystery opened wide!
And in her heart may yet be room.
Where one dim memory has remained,
The thought of one brief love unstained,
To tinge an aimless life with bloom.
Where one dim memory has remained,
The thought of one brief love unstained,
To tinge an aimless life with bloom.
O Time! thou followest close upon
The prayers of our presumptuous hours;
'Tis well thou gatherest in thy flowers
Ere the frail bloom grows sick and wan.
The prayers of our presumptuous hours;
'Tis well thou gatherest in thy flowers
Ere the frail bloom grows sick and wan.
| [The lovers, in] Putnam's monthly | |