 | Rhymes with reason and without |  |
78
WITHERED GRASS.
Like the still surface of the little lake,
The heart is ruffled by the merest breath;
A word, a look, a flower, will oft awake
A crowd of memories from their seeming death.
The heart is ruffled by the merest breath;
A word, a look, a flower, will oft awake
A crowd of memories from their seeming death.
And late a simple tuft of faded grass
Did rustle o'er my heart-strings with a tone
Of old affection which had slept, alas!
Since the blest object of that love had flown.
Did rustle o'er my heart-strings with a tone
Of old affection which had slept, alas!
Since the blest object of that love had flown.
My mind recalled therein the image fair
Of her who bound the flowers in all their pride,
But who, more frail than summer blossoms are,
Bowed her fair head, and in her spring-time died.
Of her who bound the flowers in all their pride,
But who, more frail than summer blossoms are,
Bowed her fair head, and in her spring-time died.
I lived again the love-illumined hours,
When sweet communion cast around its spell,
Beneath the arches of those fragrant bowers,
Adorned with roses that she loved so well.
When sweet communion cast around its spell,
Beneath the arches of those fragrant bowers,
Adorned with roses that she loved so well.
Anew her smile made bright the hastening day,—
How fleet it flew with Annie by my side!—
Her eye beamed on me with its olden ray,
Her cheek still blushed in youth and beauty's pride.
How fleet it flew with Annie by my side!—
Her eye beamed on me with its olden ray,
Her cheek still blushed in youth and beauty's pride.
79
Her voice once more its tender music poured
Upon my eager, all-attentive ear,
And every syllable, of old adored,
My listening spirit bowed itself to hear.
Upon my eager, all-attentive ear,
And every syllable, of old adored,
My listening spirit bowed itself to hear.
Her little hand sought mine, in beauteous trust;
Her rounded cheek was pressed against my own;
Alas! remembrance turns the hand to dust,
The rounded cheek in memory lives alone;—
Her rounded cheek was pressed against my own;
Alas! remembrance turns the hand to dust,
The rounded cheek in memory lives alone;—
Until the veil dividing us is riven,
When, roaming on that bliss-environed plain,
To our enfranchised spirits it is given
To join in loved companionship again.
When, roaming on that bliss-environed plain,
To our enfranchised spirits it is given
To join in loved companionship again.
E'en though an angel's crown adorn her head,
Though bliss ecstatic be around her cast,
I can but deem the love once on me shed
Is constant still, enduring to the last.
Though bliss ecstatic be around her cast,
I can but deem the love once on me shed
Is constant still, enduring to the last.
| Rhymes with reason and without | |