University of Virginia Library

It was the Sabbath's herald eve; and pained
With melancholy musings, such as hearts
Bleeding with sorrow nourish, forth I went
To gaze on nature's pensive face and smile
Of virgin softness, and I felt the sweet
Sense of her loveliness stealing o'er my woes
While watching her pure countenance, now veil'd
In moonlight and her changeful robes of green
Azure and silver blended, while she looked
Like one who was to me what angels are
To paradise—the living fount of joy.
A diamond star was gemming o'er the waves
Of pearl, that danced along the silver wake
Of Dian's bark, and it did seem like love
Adorning innocence; while in the midst
Of ether hung the rosy isles of bliss,
Where spirits, as they do the bests of heaven
And warder Zion's towers, commune with each
Other delightedly, and tune the songs
That soaring souls forever sing above.
The thought of meeting my beloved again,
Filled all my soul with gladness; and there came
The blended feeling of devoted love
Struggling with hope's pale spectres, and despair
Kindling the incense of its orisons
At Eden's altar; and I felt a deep
Impress of confidence of happier days
On my wrung heart till sorrow came again.

A sea of voices waked me from my dreams
Of holier spheres, and told me of the earth,
That held in its cold bosom all my loves,
Save one sweet babe that gilds its buried sire's
Image upon his widow's heart! O Earth!
Cold is the couch thy sons must sleep upon,
And dark the chambers of their slumber deep;
I looked around me and the vestal moon
Was silvering the waters, o'er which scud,
Swanlike, many a silent sail bound afar,
Perchance, to fathomless eternity!
And dazzling lamps, that seemed in the pale moon
Like crime obtruding his unholy light
Before rose-beaming virtue, glared above
The blushing waters as they laughed in scorn.
And in a sea-dome, studded o'er with lights
That mocked the diamond, many a voice arose
In merriment, well-feigned and many a form
Of outward splendor, glided round to find
Something to tell how happy all must be
Who 've wooed and won the pleasures of the world.
Like earth's gay hopes, full oft a column rose
Of fire far in the azure vault of night,
And then it burst and vanished, and loud laughs,
Lunatic, echoed far;—but some did watch
The glittering fragments till they fell—then sighed—
And I sighed too—they told me of my joys!
It was no scene for me—the sights I saw
Were once shared with those eyes that wake no more;
The voices that I heard were all unknown;
The arm I held was not my loved one's—oh!
'Tis bitter to compare our passing years!
The Dead! where are they now? The Living! what
Are they to those whose hearts are in the tomb?
[OMITTED]
Slow I returned to my lone room, and kissed
My sleeping child, and looked to heaven—and wept.