The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti A variorum edition: Edited, with textual notes and introductions, by R. W. Crump |
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 | The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti |  |
“Reflection”.
Gazing thro' her chamber window
Sits my soul's dear soul;
Looking northward, looking southward,
Looking to the goal,
Looking back without control.—
Sits my soul's dear soul;
Looking northward, looking southward,
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Looking back without control.—
I have strewn thy path, beloved,
With plumed meadowsweet,
Iris and pale perfumed lilies,
Roses most complete:
Wherefore pause on listless feet?—
With plumed meadowsweet,
Iris and pale perfumed lilies,
Roses most complete:
Wherefore pause on listless feet?—
But she sits and never answers;
Gazing gazing still
On swift fountain, shadowed valley,
Cedared sunlit hill:
Who can guess or read her will?
Gazing gazing still
On swift fountain, shadowed valley,
Cedared sunlit hill:
Who can guess or read her will?
Who can guess or read the spirit
Shrined within her eyes,
Part a longing, part a languor,
Part a mere surprize,
While slow mists do rise and rise?—
Shrined within her eyes,
Part a longing, part a languor,
Part a mere surprize,
While slow mists do rise and rise?—
Is it love she looks and longs for;
Is it rest or peace;
Is it slumber self-forgetful
In its utter ease;
Is it one or all of these?
Is it rest or peace;
Is it slumber self-forgetful
In its utter ease;
Is it one or all of these?
So she sits and doth not answer
With her dreaming eyes,
With her languid look delicious
Almost Paradise,
Less than happy, over wise.
With her dreaming eyes,
With her languid look delicious
Almost Paradise,
Less than happy, over wise.
Answer me, O self-forgetful—
Or of what beside?—
Is it day dream of a maiden,
Vision of a bride,
Is it knowledge, love, or pride?
Or of what beside?—
Is it day dream of a maiden,
Vision of a bride,
Is it knowledge, love, or pride?
Cold she sits thro' all my kindling,
Deaf to all I pray:
I have wasted might and wisdom,
Wasted night and day:
Deaf she dreams to all I say.
Deaf to all I pray:
I have wasted might and wisdom,
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Deaf she dreams to all I say.
Now if I could guess her secret
Were it worth the guess?—
Time is lessening, hope is lessening,
Love grows less and less:
What care I for no or yes?—
Were it worth the guess?—
Time is lessening, hope is lessening,
Love grows less and less:
What care I for no or yes?—
I will give her stately burial,
Tho', when she lies dead:
For dear memory of the past time,
Of her royal head,
Of the much I strove and said.
Tho', when she lies dead:
For dear memory of the past time,
Of her royal head,
Of the much I strove and said.
I will give her stately burial,
Willow branches bent;
Have her carved in alabaster,
As she dreamed and leant
While I wondered what she meant.
Willow branches bent;
Have her carved in alabaster,
As she dreamed and leant
While I wondered what she meant.
| The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti | |