 | Hagar |  |
A MEMORY.
Earth is full of sorrow—our paths all wind,
From fields of sunlight into deepest shade;—
Death enters all our homes, and leaves us blind
With weeping—bewildered and dismayed.
From fields of sunlight into deepest shade;—
Death enters all our homes, and leaves us blind
With weeping—bewildered and dismayed.
250
'Tis scarce one fleeting year ago—the leaves
Of the young oaks wore darker hues than now,
The breath was balmier of the summer breeze;
Which stirs the leaves upon the aspen's bough.
Of the young oaks wore darker hues than now,
The breath was balmier of the summer breeze;
Which stirs the leaves upon the aspen's bough.
When first I gazed upon that face so fair,
So strangely beautiful—I had thought before
That the old masters dreamed of forms so rare,
Or such alone had lived in days of yore.
So strangely beautiful—I had thought before
That the old masters dreamed of forms so rare,
Or such alone had lived in days of yore.
She seemed the daughter of some southern clime,
Where soft winds pass o'er beds of flowers
Warm in their crimson glow—where groves of lime,
Mingle their perfume with the orange bowers.
Where soft winds pass o'er beds of flowers
Warm in their crimson glow—where groves of lime,
Mingle their perfume with the orange bowers.
I gazed upon her face, and dreamed of skies
Which glow with sunnier hues—with softer rays
Than ours—there seemed a spell in those dark eyes—
I could not choose but dream, and dreaming gaze.
Which glow with sunnier hues—with softer rays
Than ours—there seemed a spell in those dark eyes—
I could not choose but dream, and dreaming gaze.
We met as strangers one bright summer day,
As strangers part, so seeming parted we:—
She little thought what wealth I bore away,
What thoughts of beauty she had given me.
As strangers part, so seeming parted we:—
She little thought what wealth I bore away,
What thoughts of beauty she had given me.
Months passed—and when the Spring came with her flowers,
And sweetly sang the birds on each green bough;
When kindly earth received May's golden showers,
Death's seal was placed upon that fair young brow.
And sweetly sang the birds on each green bough;
When kindly earth received May's golden showers,
Death's seal was placed upon that fair young brow.
O Death! if there were nought beyond this life—
For us no brighter shore—no home more blest—
If this poor world of care, and wearying strife,
And pain were all—should we so long for rest?
For us no brighter shore—no home more blest—
If this poor world of care, and wearying strife,
And pain were all—should we so long for rest?
251
We murmur oft against thy stern decree—
To see thee bear the youngest from our hearth,—
And weep, when pass the fair, the brave and free,
Like dreams and visions from the darkened earth.
To see thee bear the youngest from our hearth,—
And weep, when pass the fair, the brave and free,
Like dreams and visions from the darkened earth.
Yet in another home 'neath clearer skies,
Robed in celestial raiment—glorious band!
Are the beloved—who faded from our eyes,
And passed before us to that “better land.”
Robed in celestial raiment—glorious band!
Are the beloved—who faded from our eyes,
And passed before us to that “better land.”
1855.
| Hagar | |