Days and Hours :: :: University of Virginia Library

‘Farewell!’ she sang—her sweet voice seemed to run
Along the surface of the Sea of Sound,
Like the last glories of the setting Sun,
That strikes the Deep, and flies from bound to bound.

II

I closed mine eyes—and in the dark went forth
As 'twere the cry of this lamenting Sphere
Issuing at midnight 'twixt the Heaven and Earth,
A cry of Love, Faith, Anguish, Hope, and Fear.

III

‘Farewell!’—and the far-fluttering notes were drown'd
In floods of music, like the lark in light,
And when the choral thunders ceased to sound,
That voice soar'd forth again in endless flight.

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IV

Again the deeper Voices rolling under
Took up the sound; and still that fiery tongue
Burn'd, like new lightnings striking thro' the thunder,
And rose alone above the quiring throng.

V

‘Farewell!’—and now, methought, her face from far
Look'd o'er the battlements of cloud-built towers;
Bright in angelic beauty, pure of care,
And threw back garlands of Earth-gather'd flowers.

VI

Bluebells of Hope, Beauty that early blows,
And Fancy's wondrous blossoms of all hues,
Friendship's green leaf, and Passion's crimson rose,
All lovely things it seem'd so sad to lose.

VII

‘Farewell!’ she sang—and higher still and higher
Her soul seem'd passing on that voice sublime
To other Being—as the heat of fire
Up o'er the flame invisibly will climb.

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VIII

‘Farewell!’—and the last sweet departing thrill
Of that enraptured utterance seem'd to say,
‘Look on me now; I feel not dole or ill;
Come to me, suffering Spirits, come away.’