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148
GONE.
Gone—and forever! the grace and glory,
The passionate earth-life sweet and strong—
Good and glee are an old-time story,
Hope and loving have left for long.
The passionate earth-life sweet and strong—
Good and glee are an old-time story,
Hope and loving have left for long.
How has it failed, the heart's free fountain!
Hand and foot?—alas, was't these
Leaped the chasm, and climbed the mountain,
And held the tiller through stormy seas?
Hand and foot?—alas, was't these
Leaped the chasm, and climbed the mountain,
And held the tiller through stormy seas?
How has it dwarfed, the soul's high stature!
That clasped its darlings of earth and blue—
Knew the divine, or in art or nature,
Loved the lovely, and owned the true.
That clasped its darlings of earth and blue—
Knew the divine, or in art or nature,
Loved the lovely, and owned the true.
Spirit fordone! to thy darkening chamber
Turn, with the penanced eyes of eld,
Never again to behold the sunshine—
Never again till the pulse be quelled.
Turn, with the penanced eyes of eld,
Never again to behold the sunshine—
Never again till the pulse be quelled.
As when, forlornly, at saddest midnight,
The pale, wan lips we shall press no more,
Seen by the cold and colorless moonlight,
Tremble farewell—and the dream is o'er;
The pale, wan lips we shall press no more,
Seen by the cold and colorless moonlight,
Tremble farewell—and the dream is o'er;
149
Thus, O Life that aspired and longed so!
All amort, thou hast kissed good-bye,
Good-bye to the Youth was loved and wronged so—
And a chill, drear morn comes up the sky.
All amort, thou hast kissed good-bye,
Good-bye to the Youth was loved and wronged so—
And a chill, drear morn comes up the sky.
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