The Poetical Works of George Barlow In Ten [Eleven] Volumes |
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| II. |
 | III. |
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THROUGH THE NIGHT
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| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
 | The Poetical Works of George Barlow |  |
146
THROUGH THE NIGHT
I
Weary we are indeed, for stars are none above us,Nor friends we have to help, nor lovers' lips to love us,
But only our own souls to aid us—you and me;
Therefore with urgent voice I bid you rise, and mar not
The passing fleet-winged days with dreams of things that are not,—
Rise and be great and mix with the great-hearted sea!
II
Lo! evening now descends,—it breathes on thee my blessing;God send the soft flowers' scents and summer dreams caressing!
God send thee gracious sleep, though I am not with thee!
Sweetest, be glad of heart: the morning light shall find us
And, when we least expect, shall burst upon and blind us,—
Sweeter than moon that beams to-night upon thy sea.
147
III
I would that I were there!—that I with thee were sleepingBy those calm moonlit tides, for very passion weeping,
Feeling the sweet night close around us tenderly:
But since I cannot share the glory, I would follow
Thy flight through meadows green and many a blossomed hollow
On song's swift wings till I alight beside the sea.
IV
O love, we are alone: we will not mar the splendourOf our immortal love by word or thought untender?
Lo! I am very close to-night,—yea, one with thee.
Thou dost not understand: thou art pained; and yet with yearning
Beyond all speech to-night I follow thy foot turning
Ever with instinct sure towards our untrammelled sea.
| The Poetical Works of George Barlow | |