 | By Severn Sea and Other Poems |  |
54
YOUTH'S ECLIPSE
Sick Autumn spreads his magic tintsO'er earth and sea,
The landscape's hectic splendour hints
The close to be;
One hue the smouldering forest paints
And scarlet skies,
In mist the narrowing evening faints
And fades and flies,
Cold vapours rise a thousand shadows blending
Of gold and gray,
And sad and swift in dim mysterious ending
Burns down the day.
My soul, my soul, why also dies thy laughter
In chills and fears?
Why dost thou strain and yearn to follow after
With sighs and tears?
Further than night and winter thou must follow
The goal to see,
55
To thee will be:
Once hast thou wept o'er Autumn and o'er even,
Thou'rt past the door
Of Eden: farewell happy early Heaven,
For evermore!
| By Severn Sea and Other Poems | |