 | The Uncollected Poems of Henry Timrod |  |
FORGIVE ME THAT I DARE TO TRACE
Forgive me that I dare to trace
For thee once more the votive line,
As yet thou keep'st thy wonted place
Within this throbbing heart of mine;
For thee once more the votive line,
As yet thou keep'st thy wonted place
Within this throbbing heart of mine;
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Forgive me Lady, to the mind
Rack'd with disappointment's throe
Lost the bliss for which it pin'd
Silence is the deepest woe.
Rack'd with disappointment's throe
Lost the bliss for which it pin'd
Silence is the deepest woe.
And before I break the chain
Clasp'd so fondly to my breast,
Ere to love thee was a pain
Which robs the soul within of rest,
Clasp'd so fondly to my breast,
Ere to love thee was a pain
Which robs the soul within of rest,
I would ask thee, why that brow
Frowns where it was wont to smile?
Was the soon forgotten vow
Only spoken to beguile?
Frowns where it was wont to smile?
Was the soon forgotten vow
Only spoken to beguile?
Say, did Time's relentless wing
This deadly blight to love impart,
Before it had outliv'd the Spring
Which bade it blossom in thy heart?
This deadly blight to love impart,
Before it had outliv'd the Spring
Which bade it blossom in thy heart?
Was it coward Slander's tongue,
Trafficking in vulgar lie,
From thy breast esteem that wrung,
And chill'd the glances of thine eye?
Trafficking in vulgar lie,
From thy breast esteem that wrung,
And chill'd the glances of thine eye?
Perchance thou didst but seem to love,
Perchance another—'tis in vain
Why [?] speak when I have ceas'd to move!
I cannot wake the flame again.
Perchance another—'tis in vain
Why [?] speak when I have ceas'd to move!
I cannot wake the flame again.
I will not seek one pitying tear
To ease the wound which time may heal,
Smile on in triumph, I would ne'er
That thou should'st prove what I must feel
To ease the wound which time may heal,
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That thou should'st prove what I must feel
I might recall that hour again
When drank my words thy thirsty ear,
But Pride commands me to refrain,
No weak reproaches shalt thou hear.
When drank my words thy thirsty ear,
But Pride commands me to refrain,
No weak reproaches shalt thou hear.
Take the pledge to me thou gavest
When absence sorrow was to both,
And he whom thou in coldness leavest
Never doubted of thy truth.
When absence sorrow was to both,
And he whom thou in coldness leavest
Never doubted of thy truth.
Take it,—it was wont to gladden
Every fibre of my heart,
Now alas! 'twould only madden
With the thought that we must part.
Every fibre of my heart,
Now alas! 'twould only madden
With the thought that we must part.
Fare thee well forever now
How well I lov'd thou canst not know
When we meet again it will not be
With the quivering lip and brow
With which I used to look on thee.
How well I lov'd thou canst not know
When we meet again it will not be
With the quivering lip and brow
With which I used to look on thee.
Not with the soul enrapturing sigh
That heav'd my breast when thou wert near,
No! my fix'd and changeless eye
Shall prove thou art no longer dear.
That heav'd my breast when thou wert near,
No! my fix'd and changeless eye
Shall prove thou art no longer dear.
| The Uncollected Poems of Henry Timrod | |