The Poetical Works of George Barlow In Ten [Eleven] Volumes |
 | I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
 | XI. |
|
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
|
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 | The Poetical Works of George Barlow |  |
150
TO A YOUNG AMERICAN LADY
We met upon the pier and parted,
That August evening fair:
I pass the same spot, weary-hearted;
You are not there!
That August evening fair:
I pass the same spot, weary-hearted;
You are not there!
The continent will soon receive you;
Paris will hold you fast
And lure your love, and never leave you
One vision of the past:
Paris will hold you fast
And lure your love, and never leave you
One vision of the past:
And Switzerland with snowy mountains
Will rise upon your sight,
And by the Rhone's green swift-foot fountains
You will forget that night.
Will rise upon your sight,
And by the Rhone's green swift-foot fountains
You will forget that night.
151
We might have done so much together,
If Fate had kinder been!
Paced summer woods in still blue weather,
My grey-eyed stranger-queen!
If Fate had kinder been!
Paced summer woods in still blue weather,
My grey-eyed stranger-queen!
I English and an English singer,
You from America,
If time had had the heart to linger,
Had had so much to say!
You from America,
If time had had the heart to linger,
Had had so much to say!
But lo! the chance was missed. I never
Asked even of your name,
And now the eternal time-waves sever,
And you I may not claim.
Asked even of your name,
And now the eternal time-waves sever,
And you I may not claim.
But take this song, and let my yearning
Across far skies and seas
Fly winged, and reach you slowly turning
Through moonlit orange-trees.
Across far skies and seas
Fly winged, and reach you slowly turning
Through moonlit orange-trees.
And let me say how through the flying
Swift years that are to be
I still shall bear in mind that dying
Gold sun across the sea.
Swift years that are to be
I still shall bear in mind that dying
Gold sun across the sea.
152
That sun we saw, and star that lightened
Above the calm blue deep:—
New dawns have flamed, new sunsets brightened,—
But still you haunt my sleep.
Above the calm blue deep:—
New dawns have flamed, new sunsets brightened,—
But still you haunt my sleep.
You come in dreams, and will come ever
While wind and sun and sea
Are still the same. I know that never
Your image quite will flee.
While wind and sun and sea
Are still the same. I know that never
Your image quite will flee.
Just twenty minutes' talk,—then parted!
So life and love are spent:
But I am always heavy-hearted;
And are you quite content?
So life and love are spent:
But I am always heavy-hearted;
And are you quite content?
Aug. 9, 1882.
| The Poetical Works of George Barlow | |