 | Poems (1797) |  |
161
THE MANIAC.
Those gestures so wild and forlorn,
Those looks uninform'd by the soul,
Those laughters of objectless scorn,
Those eye-balls that vacantly roll,
Those looks uninform'd by the soul,
Those laughters of objectless scorn,
Those eye-balls that vacantly roll,
Those garments that negligent hang,
That pace so unequal and slow—
They tell of a past-suffer'd pang,
Yet of feelings now callous to woe!
That pace so unequal and slow—
They tell of a past-suffer'd pang,
Yet of feelings now callous to woe!
Those sighs that so piteously swell
Heave a breast all unconscious of strife!
Those tears that unwittingly fell
They drain not the sluices of life!
Heave a breast all unconscious of strife!
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They drain not the sluices of life!
That bosom exposed and bare
It solicits the pitiless blast!
That form unprotected by care
On the cold earth is heedlessly cast!
It solicits the pitiless blast!
That form unprotected by care
On the cold earth is heedlessly cast!
Yet that form so neglected and wan
Which no friend shall assiduously nurse,
It forgets that its title—is Man!
And cancels Humanity's curse!
Which no friend shall assiduously nurse,
It forgets that its title—is Man!
And cancels Humanity's curse!
Poor Maniac, I envy thy state
When with sorrow and anguish I shrink;
When shall I be wise—and forget!
For 'tis madness to feel and to think!
When with sorrow and anguish I shrink;
When shall I be wise—and forget!
For 'tis madness to feel and to think!
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These throbs of emotion 'tis true
They appear all enchanting and fair;
But how soon shall we piteously rue
That the charm was in league with despair.
They appear all enchanting and fair;
But how soon shall we piteously rue
That the charm was in league with despair.
And Hope, that disease of the mind,
Which wakes the keen throb of desire,
Alas! what a blank shall it find
When its fondly-shap'd transports expire!
Which wakes the keen throb of desire,
Alas! what a blank shall it find
When its fondly-shap'd transports expire!
What a blank shall it find!—When in Youth
The credulous feelings can bless,
We wish, and imagine it truth,
We dream, and believe we possess.
The credulous feelings can bless,
We wish, and imagine it truth,
We dream, and believe we possess.
But the tears that voluptuously start,
The charm of th' unspeakable sigh,
The rapture that seizes the heart
When a kindred companion is nigh,
The charm of th' unspeakable sigh,
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When a kindred companion is nigh,
The immortal aspirings of worth,
Are feelings all fruitlessly given!
These feelings must perish on earth!
And they scarcely are fabled in heaven!
Are feelings all fruitlessly given!
These feelings must perish on earth!
And they scarcely are fabled in heaven!
| Poems (1797) | |