 | Judith, Esther, and other poems |  |
7
DEDICATION.
To that dear friend who cheer'd my first faint lays.
With the hope-kindling breath of timely praise,
And taught my song, of wild spontaneous flow,
Whate'er of art its simple numbers know.
With the hope-kindling breath of timely praise,
And taught my song, of wild spontaneous flow,
Whate'er of art its simple numbers know.
Lady, I've wov'n for thee a wreath,
Tho' pale the buds that gem it,
Think of the gloom they grew beneath,
Nor utterly contemn it.
Tho' pale the buds that gem it,
Think of the gloom they grew beneath,
Nor utterly contemn it.
Scarce in my cradle was I laid
Ere Fate relentless bound me,
Deep in a narrow vale of shade
Where prisoning rocks surround me.
Ere Fate relentless bound me,
Deep in a narrow vale of shade
Where prisoning rocks surround me.
Lady, I've culled a wreath for you,
From the few flowers that grow there,
Because 'twas all that I could do
To lull the sense of woe there.
From the few flowers that grow there,
Because 'twas all that I could do
To lull the sense of woe there.
Yet, Lady, I have known delight
The heart with bliss o'erflowing,
Endearing forms have blest my sight
With soul and beauty glowing.
The heart with bliss o'erflowing,
Endearing forms have blest my sight
With soul and beauty glowing.
8
For Hope came all arrayed in light
And pitying stood before me,
Smiled on each flinty barrier's height
And to its summit bore me.
And pitying stood before me,
Smiled on each flinty barrier's height
And to its summit bore me.
She showed many a scene divine—
She told me—and descended—
Of joys that never must be mine—
And then—her power was ended.
She told me—and descended—
Of joys that never must be mine—
And then—her power was ended.
Oh, pleasures dead as soon as born,
To be forgotten never!
Oh, moments—fleeting—few—and gone
To be regretted ever!
To be forgotten never!
Oh, moments—fleeting—few—and gone
To be regretted ever!
A few sweet waves of glowing light
Upon time's dreary ocean—
Light gales that wake the dead calm night
To momentary motion—
Upon time's dreary ocean—
Light gales that wake the dead calm night
To momentary motion—
Bright beams that in their beauty bless
A dark and desert plain—
To show its fearful loneliness—
And disappear again.
A dark and desert plain—
To show its fearful loneliness—
And disappear again.
Yet oft she hovers o'er me now,
Each soothing effort making,
So mothers kiss the infant's brow
But cannot cure its aching.
Each soothing effort making,
So mothers kiss the infant's brow
But cannot cure its aching.
9
Then, Lady, oh, accept my wreath,
Though all besides condemn it,
Think of the gloom it grew beneath
Nor utterly contemn it.
Though all besides condemn it,
Think of the gloom it grew beneath
Nor utterly contemn it.
MARIA.
| Judith, Esther, and other poems | |