 | Lyrical and other poems |  |
AH! DEEM NOT
Ah! deem not love can pass away—
When all the ties of life decay,
That flame will still exist alone,
More bright, when all the rest are gone!
When all the ties of life decay,
That flame will still exist alone,
More bright, when all the rest are gone!
80
Love is not known, when fortune sheds
Her gaudy day-beam round our heads;
But when the hopes of life shall fly,
Before pale sorrow's spectral eye!
Her gaudy day-beam round our heads;
But when the hopes of life shall fly,
Before pale sorrow's spectral eye!
When Fortune comes with gyves and bands,
And Envy rears her viper hands,
And malice, with its upas-breath,
Taints e'en the atmosphere of death!
And Envy rears her viper hands,
And malice, with its upas-breath,
Taints e'en the atmosphere of death!
Then, when life's taper wanes away,
Before neglect, or chill decay,
Love keeps its vigils round its bed,
And still supports the aching head!
Before neglect, or chill decay,
Love keeps its vigils round its bed,
And still supports the aching head!
Drinks in the plague, that wastes the heart
Of him, with whom it could not part;
Tastes his last damp and clammy breath,
And from the lip it loves—drinks—death!
Of him, with whom it could not part;
Tastes his last damp and clammy breath,
And from the lip it loves—drinks—death!
| Lyrical and other poems | |