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178
DESIDERIA.
Hast thou ever been haunted, belovèd! I wonder
By yearnings for me,
Since that hour when the Fates tore our bosoms asunder,
And reft me of thee?
By yearnings for me,
Since that hour when the Fates tore our bosoms asunder,
And reft me of thee?
Has there come to thee ever a craving, a hunger,
A moment's regret,
For the days in the past when our spirits were younger,
Nor world-worn as yet;
A moment's regret,
For the days in the past when our spirits were younger,
Nor world-worn as yet;
When fancy was wilder and freer, nor chains of the Real
Had fettered her wings,
That soared unrestrained to the blue, the Ideal,
As a lark soars and sings?
Had fettered her wings,
That soared unrestrained to the blue, the Ideal,
As a lark soars and sings?
Dost thou ever recall, when the Heavens are flushing
With glory divine,
How, floodlike, our joy in the sunset went rushing
Through thy soul and mine?
With glory divine,
How, floodlike, our joy in the sunset went rushing
Through thy soul and mine?
179
Or on sweet summer nights when the hay-scentèd river
Is starlit and still,
Or rippled perchance by the breeze's faint shiver,
Or the far distant mill;
Is starlit and still,
Or rippled perchance by the breeze's faint shiver,
Or the far distant mill;
Dost thou think how we loved it together, or ponder
How each loved it best
Because it was dear to the other to wander
Afloat on its breast?
How each loved it best
Because it was dear to the other to wander
Afloat on its breast?
Or in dark wintertide when the earth and her daughters
Lie smitten with death,
When the wind is beginning to cover the waters
With the ice of his breath;
Lie smitten with death,
When the wind is beginning to cover the waters
With the ice of his breath;
When the curtains are drawn, and the closely-barred shutters
Keep the chill darkness out,
While the rich ruddy firelight flickers and flutters
As the blasts rave without;
Keep the chill darkness out,
While the rich ruddy firelight flickers and flutters
As the blasts rave without;
When you all gather round and encircle the fire—
Sweet moments and brief!—
Does there fall from thee ever a sigh of desire,—
A teardrop of grief—
Sweet moments and brief!—
Does there fall from thee ever a sigh of desire,—
A teardrop of grief—
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For the sweet twilight hours of a frozen December,
That vanished too fast?
Is it pain to thee then, my beloved, to remember
The days that are past?
That vanished too fast?
Is it pain to thee then, my beloved, to remember
The days that are past?
Ah! my child, I have drunk of the torture of yearning
For joys that are not;—
I would pray, as I love thee, the years unreturning
Were wholly forgot.
For joys that are not;—
I would pray, as I love thee, the years unreturning
Were wholly forgot.
And yet as I loved what our lives have forsaken,
And trust in it yet,
I would pray there were hours in the past that awaken
A pang of regret.
And trust in it yet,
I would pray there were hours in the past that awaken
A pang of regret.
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