 | Hagar |  |
THE DARKENED CHAMBER.
Shrouded deep in gloom and silence,
All the darkened chamber lay,
Where once through the lifted curtain,
Stole the morning's golden ray.
All the darkened chamber lay,
Where once through the lifted curtain,
Stole the morning's golden ray.
Where the bird's first thrilling joy-note,
Floated on the silent air,
Filling all her heart with gladness,
Mingling with her morning prayer.
Floated on the silent air,
Filling all her heart with gladness,
Mingling with her morning prayer.
Once again upon the threshold,
Mournfully the mother stands,
Drearily her dark eye resting,
On the death-bound folded hands.
Mournfully the mother stands,
Drearily her dark eye resting,
On the death-bound folded hands.
Heavily the drapery falleth
'Round the window like a pall,
Scarce a gleam of blessed sunlight,
Resteth on the chamber wall.
'Round the window like a pall,
Scarce a gleam of blessed sunlight,
Resteth on the chamber wall.
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And around her heart there gathers,
Midnight shadows dark and wild,
Doth she shudder, fearful mother?
In the lone room of her child?
Midnight shadows dark and wild,
Doth she shudder, fearful mother?
In the lone room of her child?
Doth she tremble? Look, oh mother,
In a holy sleep she lies,
Nevermore the light may greet thee,
From those meek, reproachful eyes.
In a holy sleep she lies,
Nevermore the light may greet thee,
From those meek, reproachful eyes.
Nevermore the tear-drop glitter,
'Neath the lashes drooping low;
Nevermore the pale lip quiver,
Or her heart with grief o'erflow.
'Neath the lashes drooping low;
Nevermore the pale lip quiver,
Or her heart with grief o'erflow.
Art thou weeping? Think, oh mother,
On her lonely childhood's years—
When the stars looked sadly on her,
Here she wept her bitter tears.
On her lonely childhood's years—
When the stars looked sadly on her,
Here she wept her bitter tears.
Here where calm and still she lieth,
Broken-hearted she hath crept,
Thinking on thy harsh reproving,
Weeping mother, whilst thou slept.
Broken-hearted she hath crept,
Thinking on thy harsh reproving,
Weeping mother, whilst thou slept.
Now she sleepeth, oh how calmly!
Wouldst thou wake her from her rest,
By thy burning tear-drops falling
On her cold and silent breast?
Wouldst thou wake her from her rest,
By thy burning tear-drops falling
On her cold and silent breast?
Dost thou pray to see the pale lip,
Breaking from the seal of death?
O what joy to clasp her, mother,
With a warm and living breath!
Breaking from the seal of death?
O what joy to clasp her, mother,
With a warm and living breath!
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And to feel her arms caressing,
Lips press kisses on thy brow
As they once did, wouldst thou chide her,
Chide her harshly, mother, now?
Lips press kisses on thy brow
As they once did, wouldst thou chide her,
Chide her harshly, mother, now?
Never, mother, light will never,
Visit thee from earthly shore;
And to thee the darkened chamber,
Shall be dark forevermore.
Visit thee from earthly shore;
And to thee the darkened chamber,
Shall be dark forevermore.
| Hagar | |