 | Blank verse (1798) |  |
28
TO A SISTER .
Burton, August 1797.
My Sister, often does my lonely heart
Dwell on thy parting look, thy grasp of love!
Dear girl, thou know'st with what a willing fondness
I've watch'd thy opening mind; with how much warmth
I've caught the unfolding sentiment, the wish
Newly develop'd: I have listen'd to thee,
And of thy innocent feelings have partook,
E'en till I liv'd in thee, and melted down
Years of past bitterness: and now unblest
By all the hallow'd charities of home,
By all those nameless offices of love
Which never pass its bounds; treasures whose worth
The mortal may not know, who sojourns not
An alien from his kindred, I would fain
Solace my spirit, imaging thy smiles,
Thy kindly accents, thy mute eagerness
To fill for me life's gnawing vacancies!
But, ah! the thought how distant thou art from me
Embitters the remembrance, turns the tear
Of gentle sorrow to so hard a pang,
I may not give it utterance.
Dwell on thy parting look, thy grasp of love!
Dear girl, thou know'st with what a willing fondness
I've watch'd thy opening mind; with how much warmth
I've caught the unfolding sentiment, the wish
Newly develop'd: I have listen'd to thee,
And of thy innocent feelings have partook,
E'en till I liv'd in thee, and melted down
29
By all the hallow'd charities of home,
By all those nameless offices of love
Which never pass its bounds; treasures whose worth
The mortal may not know, who sojourns not
An alien from his kindred, I would fain
Solace my spirit, imaging thy smiles,
Thy kindly accents, thy mute eagerness
To fill for me life's gnawing vacancies!
But, ah! the thought how distant thou art from me
Embitters the remembrance, turns the tear
Of gentle sorrow to so hard a pang,
I may not give it utterance.
But mayst thou
Live happy! And may he, whose shaping soul
Had imag'd a stability of bliss
This earth may never boast; may he prevent
The sad experience that would supplicate
That mourning one, that melancholy form
Of dreariest Peace, which broods on Folly's grave.
And with a fixedness of look, which tells
That mortal hopes and fears have shaken her,
Till all was blank, and they could work no more,
Strikes a most deadly calm. May he, dear friend,
His disappointments so transfer to thee,
That they may hush each mortal restlessness;
Yet mixt with somewhat of the sweet delight
Which mingles with past griefs, rather subdue
To a most enviable quiet, a mood
Of meekest self-content, than numb the soul,
Or freeze to apathy.
Live happy! And may he, whose shaping soul
Had imag'd a stability of bliss
30
The sad experience that would supplicate
That mourning one, that melancholy form
Of dreariest Peace, which broods on Folly's grave.
And with a fixedness of look, which tells
That mortal hopes and fears have shaken her,
Till all was blank, and they could work no more,
Strikes a most deadly calm. May he, dear friend,
His disappointments so transfer to thee,
That they may hush each mortal restlessness;
Yet mixt with somewhat of the sweet delight
Which mingles with past griefs, rather subdue
To a most enviable quiet, a mood
Of meekest self-content, than numb the soul,
Or freeze to apathy.
Nor do not I
Sometimes indulge the dream that we may meet,
Beloved Sister, in some lowly shed,
Far from the stir of men; and we will there
Sum up each earthly peril; and if so,
Our souls may win that holy confidence,
Cheering the pure in heart; some natural tears
Of no mean transport shall bedew our cheeks,
And we will hallow to the Being that gave
‘The mystery of life’ that blessed spot
E'en till it seem a little heaven below.
31
Beloved Sister, in some lowly shed,
Far from the stir of men; and we will there
Sum up each earthly peril; and if so,
Our souls may win that holy confidence,
Cheering the pure in heart; some natural tears
Of no mean transport shall bedew our cheeks,
And we will hallow to the Being that gave
‘The mystery of life’ that blessed spot
E'en till it seem a little heaven below.
| Blank verse (1798) | |