The Poetical Works of George Barlow In Ten [Eleven] Volumes |
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“DARKNESS”
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| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
 | The Poetical Works of George Barlow |  |
172
“DARKNESS”
One moment's splendour in the crimson rose,
One moment's sweetness; then all sweetness goes:
Never again the flame-flushed petal glows.
One moment's sweetness; then all sweetness goes:
Never again the flame-flushed petal glows.
A star, a moon, a cloud, a space of blue;
Then no more skies, moons, clouds,—no star-rays new:
No fresh morn's fern-fronds exquisite with dew.
Then no more skies, moons, clouds,—no star-rays new:
No fresh morn's fern-fronds exquisite with dew.
Love gleaming splendid from the water white
One moment, cleaving waves with shoulder bright:
Then loveless passionless deep sunless night.
One moment, cleaving waves with shoulder bright:
Then loveless passionless deep sunless night.
A kiss: sweet mouth tight-pressed against our own;
Then autumn dying leaves about us blown;
The dim December wind's sepulchral tone.
Then autumn dying leaves about us blown;
The dim December wind's sepulchral tone.
173
A woman's gracious quivering form to hold;
Rapture to gather from her lips of gold;
Then never pressure of sweet lips: we are old.
Rapture to gather from her lips of gold;
Then never pressure of sweet lips: we are old.
One gleam of awful passion o'er the sea:
Then never again, O love, the form of thee;
Only the wanton flakes of foam that flee.
Then never again, O love, the form of thee;
Only the wanton flakes of foam that flee.
Summer but once; then darkness and a tomb,
And wings of night pregnant with purple gloom:
One rose,—no more; one vain waft of perfume.
And wings of night pregnant with purple gloom:
One rose,—no more; one vain waft of perfume.
One glory amid the vales of cream-white fair
Soft June-loved meadowsweet in June-soft air:
One meadowsweet-soft bosom; then despair.
Soft June-loved meadowsweet in June-soft air:
One meadowsweet-soft bosom; then despair.
1880.
| The Poetical Works of George Barlow | |