 | Later Lyrics |  |
231
EROS DEPARTS.
Love that wert my being,
Love that passest death,
Am I here without thee,
Breathing human breath?
Moving, not to meet thee
On this summer morn?
While the Earth, new-cinctured,
Blyth and bloom adorn?
Love that passest death,
Am I here without thee,
Breathing human breath?
Moving, not to meet thee
On this summer morn?
While the Earth, new-cinctured,
Blyth and bloom adorn?
While the deep-hung branches,
Trailing, sweep the ground,
And the droning beetle
Spinneth round for round,
And the light, wave-broken,
Shimmers on the sea,
Do I sit here, waiting
Nevermore for thee?
Trailing, sweep the ground,
And the droning beetle
Spinneth round for round,
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Shimmers on the sea,
Do I sit here, waiting
Nevermore for thee?
But for thee my fancy
Chose these garments white,
Wove the tufted roses
But for thy delight;
But for thee this diamond,
Darling of the mine,
Glistens in the ear-drop
Like a tear of thine,—
Like a tear, that, welling
From thy happy breast,
Where thy vows were whispered,
Waiteth to be blest.
Chose these garments white,
Wove the tufted roses
But for thy delight;
But for thee this diamond,
Darling of the mine,
Glistens in the ear-drop
Like a tear of thine,—
Like a tear, that, welling
From thy happy breast,
Where thy vows were whispered,
Waiteth to be blest.
Beasts in yonder meadow
Lightly choose a mate,
Missing, scarce a day's length
Wonder they, and wait;
But the ewe lamb's mother
Bleateth long and sore;
Thrush, in yonder covert,
Sorroweth evermore;
Choking with a spasm
In her silver strain,
“Dear delight of summer,
Come again, again!”
Lightly choose a mate,
Missing, scarce a day's length
Wonder they, and wait;
233
Bleateth long and sore;
Thrush, in yonder covert,
Sorroweth evermore;
Choking with a spasm
In her silver strain,
“Dear delight of summer,
Come again, again!”
Not that thou shouldst leave me,—
Thou, ethereal born;
But that I survive thee,—
That is grief and scorn.
Thou, ethereal born;
But that I survive thee,—
That is grief and scorn.
Poor in form and stature,
Pale and dull of hue,
By thy creed of beauty
Towards thy wish I grew,
Fought with Time and Nature,
Conquered bitter pain,
Keeping thievish footsteps
From thy dear domain.
Pale and dull of hue,
By thy creed of beauty
Towards thy wish I grew,
Fought with Time and Nature,
Conquered bitter pain,
Keeping thievish footsteps
From thy dear domain.
234
From that task delightsome,
Grief-absolved I lie;
Free to pine and perish,
Love, since thou canst die.
While the trees, like mourners,
Bear my azure pall,
Let the whirlwind scatter,
Let the ashes fall,
Striving towards no heaven
Dim and distant far:
Only where thou dwellest
The Immortals are.
Grief-absolved I lie;
Free to pine and perish,
Love, since thou canst die.
While the trees, like mourners,
Bear my azure pall,
Let the whirlwind scatter,
Let the ashes fall,
Striving towards no heaven
Dim and distant far:
Only where thou dwellest
The Immortals are.
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