 | Poems by Elizabeth Akers (Florence Percy) |  |
160
A DREAM.
Back again, darling? O day of delight!
How I have longed for you, morning and night!
Watched for you, pined for you, all the days through,
Craving no boon and no blessing but you,—
Prayed for you, plead for you, sought you in vain,
Striving forever to find you again,—
Counting all anguish as naught, if I might
Clasp you again as I clasp you to-night!
How I have longed for you, morning and night!
Watched for you, pined for you, all the days through,
Craving no boon and no blessing but you,—
Prayed for you, plead for you, sought you in vain,
Striving forever to find you again,—
Counting all anguish as naught, if I might
Clasp you again as I clasp you to-night!
O, I have sorrowed and suffered so much
Since I last answered your lips' loving touch,—
Through the night-watches, in daylight's broad beams,
Anguished by visions and tortured by dreams,—
Dreams so replete with bewildering pain,
Still it is throbbing in heart and in brain:
O, for I dreamed,—keep me close to your side,
Darling, O darling!—I dreamed you had died!
Since I last answered your lips' loving touch,—
Through the night-watches, in daylight's broad beams,
Anguished by visions and tortured by dreams,—
Dreams so replete with bewildering pain,
Still it is throbbing in heart and in brain:
O, for I dreamed,—keep me close to your side,
Darling, O darling!—I dreamed you had died!
161
Dreamed that I stood by your pillow, and heard
From your pale lips love's last half-uttered word;
And by the light of the May-morning skies
Watched your face whiten, and saw your dear eyes
Gazing far into the Wonderful Land;
Felt your fond fingers grow cold in my hand;—
“Darling,” you whispered, “My darling!” you said
Faintly, so faintly,—and then you were dead!
From your pale lips love's last half-uttered word;
And by the light of the May-morning skies
Watched your face whiten, and saw your dear eyes
Gazing far into the Wonderful Land;
Felt your fond fingers grow cold in my hand;—
“Darling,” you whispered, “My darling!” you said
Faintly, so faintly,—and then you were dead!
O the dark hours when I knelt by your grave,
Calling upon you to love and to save,—
Pleading in vain for a sign or a word
Only to tell me you listened and heard,—
Only to say you remembered and knew
How all my soul was in anguish for you;
Bitter, despairing, the tears that I shed,
Darling, O darling, because you were dead!
Calling upon you to love and to save,—
Pleading in vain for a sign or a word
Only to tell me you listened and heard,—
Only to say you remembered and knew
How all my soul was in anguish for you;
Bitter, despairing, the tears that I shed,
Darling, O darling, because you were dead!
O the black days of your absence, my own!
O to be left in the wide world alone!
Long, with our little one clasped to my breast,
Wandered I, seeking for refuge and rest;
Yet all the world was so careless and cold,
Vainly I sought for a sheltering fold;—
There was no roof and no home for my head,
Darling, O darling, because you were dead!
O to be left in the wide world alone!
Long, with our little one clasped to my breast,
Wandered I, seeking for refuge and rest;
Yet all the world was so careless and cold,
162
There was no roof and no home for my head,
Darling, O darling, because you were dead!
Yet, in the midst of the darkness and pain,
Darling, I knew I should find you again!
Knew, as the roses know, under the snow,
How the next summer will set them aglow;
So did I always, the dreary days through,
Keep my heart single and sacred to you
As on the beautiful day we were wed,
Darling, O darling, although you were dead!
Darling, I knew I should find you again!
Knew, as the roses know, under the snow,
How the next summer will set them aglow;
So did I always, the dreary days through,
Keep my heart single and sacred to you
As on the beautiful day we were wed,
Darling, O darling, although you were dead!
O the great joy of awaking, to know
I did but dream all that torturing woe!
O the delight, that my searching can trace
Nothing of coldness or change in your face!
Still is your forehead unfurrowed and fair;
None of the gold is lost out of your hair,
None of the light from your dear eyes has fled—
Darling, O how could I dream you were dead?
I did but dream all that torturing woe!
O the delight, that my searching can trace
Nothing of coldness or change in your face!
Still is your forehead unfurrowed and fair;
None of the gold is lost out of your hair,
None of the light from your dear eyes has fled—
Darling, O how could I dream you were dead?
Now you are here, you will always remain,
Never, O never to leave me again!
How it has vanished, the anguish of years!
Vanished! nay, these are not sorrowful tears,—
Happiness only my cheek has impearled,—
There is no grieving for me in the world;
Dark clouds may threaten, but I have no fear,
Darling, O darling, because you are here!
Never, O never to leave me again!
163
Vanished! nay, these are not sorrowful tears,—
Happiness only my cheek has impearled,—
There is no grieving for me in the world;
Dark clouds may threaten, but I have no fear,
Darling, O darling, because you are here!
| Poems by Elizabeth Akers (Florence Percy) | |