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University of Virginia Library

Poems by John B. Tabb

Tabb, John B. (1845-1909)

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TO A PHOTOGRAPH.

THE WHITE JESSAMINE.

THE LONELY MOUNTAIN.

THE HALF-RING MOON.

IN MY ORANGE-GROVE.

TO THE SUMMER WIND.

TO AN OLD WASSAIL-CUP.

FOUNTAIN-HEADS.

YORICK'S SKULL.

KEATS—SAPPHO.

THE MOCKING-BIRD.

THE HUMMING-BIRD.

TO A WOOD-ROBIN.

THE WATER-LILY.

THE PLAINT OF THE ROSE.

THE VIOLET SPEAKS.

STAR-JESSAMINE.

AT THE YEAR'S END.

THE LIGHT OF BETHLEHEM

EARTH'S TRIBUTE.

THE RECOMPENSE.

THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.

THE ANNUNCIATION.

THE INCARNATION.

THE ASSUMPTION.

CHRIST TO THE VICTIM-TREE.

ANGELS OF PAIN.

A LENTEN THOUGHT.

“IS THY SERVANT A DOG?

TO THE BABE NIVA.

SAPPHO.

TO SIDNEY LANIER.

ON THE FORTHCOMING VOLUME OF SIDNEY LANIER'S POEMS.

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115

SAPPHO.

A light upon the headland, flaming far,
We see thee o'er the widening waves of time,
Impassioned as a palpitating star,
Big with prophetic destiny sublime:
A momentary flash—a burst of song—
Then silence, and a withering blank of pain.
We wait, alas! in tedious vigils long,
The meteor-gleam that cometh not again!
Our eyes are heavy, and our visage wan:
Our breath—a phantom of the darkness—glides
Ghostlike to swell the dismal caravan
Of shadows, where thy lingering splendor hides,
Till, with our tears and ineffectual sighs,
We quench the spark a smouldering hope supplies.