My Lyrical Life :: :: University of Virginia Library

Like one caught in the Tempest's arms unseen,
Dashed overboard unheard, and left to fight
With the mad waves, blindfolded by the gloom,
All through that desolate dark he wrestled lone;
Tossing tumultuous in a storm of soul;
And lived his life o'er in the agony stern,
As on the drowning rushes all the past.

Again he saw her in the Silk-Mill stand
Complete in beauty, crowned with meekest calm,
As missioned Angel down to Hell wings when
Some suffering Spirit's time is up in Heaven.
He went with her among the Poor where fell
Her smile as sunshine on a harvest land;
And from the folded flowers of thorny life,
Her presence charmed a kindlier spirit forth;
He, hoarding up their blessings in his heart.

He saw her in the Spring-dawns gliding down,
Like Morning on the world, its Comforter.
Darkened into himself, he watched, all eye,
Like Spirit that sees its mortal love go past,
Itself invisible.

In languorous noons
Of summer, when, a Shape of fragrant warmth,

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Nature seems glowing through her sumptuous robe,
With all her beauty bosoming tenderly;
And from behind the mask of leaves and flowers,
Her passion takes you with ambrosial breath;
He in the cool, green shadows would lie down,
O'er him the trees a lowe of glimmering gold,
To kiss where the beloved foot had touched,
And sanctified the sod her skirt had swept,
With Lover's lip of fire, and fondling cheek,
All tingling through and through with fervid life.

He saw the visible Divinity
O' the time and place, taking her twilight walk,
Starrily moving in an air of glory;
The serious sea-blue dreaming in her eyes;
Her lofty graces robed about with heaven;
And drank the wine of wonder as she went.

Ah, happy times, when on the top of life
He saw her beauty's daily sunrise, heard
Her voice, and breathed the air made holy by her,
And in her presence cloud-like sunned himself,
With a sweet silent awe; while all his heart
With rich love trembled as 'twould break for bliss;
Like shaken dews in jewelled cups of morn!

Ah, happy nights, and lustrous darks, in which
He watched her window when the house was mute,
And Silence took the place in loving arms,
Where the tall Chestnuts hushed her beauty round,
Uplifting in their hands a light of flowers!
There with its speechless yearning strove his heart,
O'erflowing till the night was filled with love.

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How often through the winter wind and rain,
His spirit fluttered to her, winged with blessings.
And he stood clothed and warmed with thoughts of her;
And through the darkness and the cold, his love
Glowed like a watch-fire in a wilderness;
Or glistened upward in a light of tears;
Soul-diamonds of the purest water—tears
Like dewdrops in the flower-cups held toward Heaven;
Such as the Angels wear for jewels in heaven.
Ah, happy times that wave their sad farewells,
To come no more, no more, O Nevermore!
To him, who, tasting the forbidden tree,
Now sat at Eden gates, and they were closed.

Sudden a thought struck new life through him as strikes
Land at the swimmer's feet who gives up lost!
He who could die for her, could he not live
For her, and help her win her rightful throne?
He sat not down on shore to mourn his wreck;
Not his the heart to wail when he might work.

That night hath passed; but from its death-bed rose
A Star, to sing and sparkle in his soul,
And light him to some crowned accomplishment.