 | Poems |  |
181
FAREWELL TO THE ANTILLES.
One long last look!—the sunset clouds yon lonely island shade,
And from the high and rolling mast I watch it slowly fade.
Soon like a dream 'twill vanish—and ah! what dreams have fled!
What feelings born in olden time are numbered with the dead!
What hopes have shed their sunshine that never more can be!
Since first that bright and sunny shore rose o'er the tropic sea.
And from the high and rolling mast I watch it slowly fade.
Soon like a dream 'twill vanish—and ah! what dreams have fled!
What feelings born in olden time are numbered with the dead!
What hopes have shed their sunshine that never more can be!
Since first that bright and sunny shore rose o'er the tropic sea.
A thousand thoughts are thronging o'er memory's faded track,
A thousand voices of the Past still seem to call me back,
Still dreams are clinging 'round me that now 'twere vain to tell—
Farewell, ye green savannahs!—ye waving palms, farewell!
A thousand voices of the Past still seem to call me back,
182
Farewell, ye green savannahs!—ye waving palms, farewell!
Ye humble hearts and willing hands, that served me long, adieu!
And fare thee well, my bonny steed, so trusty and so true.
Farewell the merry moonlight, that once so sweetly played
On those who roved together 'neath the Faurestina's shade.
Farewell, each kind familiar face—each comrade true and tried!
And thou!—once dearer to my heart than all the world beside!
And fare thee well, my bonny steed, so trusty and so true.
Farewell the merry moonlight, that once so sweetly played
On those who roved together 'neath the Faurestina's shade.
Farewell, each kind familiar face—each comrade true and tried!
And thou!—once dearer to my heart than all the world beside!
How well I loved thou knowest not—and thou wilt never know—
For words are idle when we feel the very heart o'erflow:
And mine henceforth will never be the blessed lot to prove
By truth and tenderness untold, how deeply it could love—
To shield thee, as it fain had done, from every care and strife,
And bear thee like an infant through the troubled paths of Life—
To heighten every joy—to keep each sorrow far away,
And make thy dwelling here one long and happy summer's day.
For words are idle when we feel the very heart o'erflow:
And mine henceforth will never be the blessed lot to prove
By truth and tenderness untold, how deeply it could love—
183
And bear thee like an infant through the troubled paths of Life—
To heighten every joy—to keep each sorrow far away,
And make thy dwelling here one long and happy summer's day.
And hast thou all forgotten those old and pleasant hours,
When hand in hand, and heart to heart, we wandered mid the flowers?
Each look so softly eloquent, though all in silence given,
When thou and I together stood beneath the moon-lit heaven?
But mine was never sought beyond those dark angelic eyes—
Whose radiance would not let me mark the starry Indian skies.
And when their gentle glances met and answered mine again,
What words couldst thou have spoken to make me happier then?
And can it be those happy days, whose memories still entwine
So closely round my heart of hearts, could fade so soon from thine?
The words so fondly spoken were uttered all in vain!
The hands once twined so tenderly shall ne'er be clasped again!
And one who seemed too pure of heart on this cold earth to live,
Has yielded to the common hopes and fears that earth can give!
That thou couldst lay one thought, one wish upon its sordid shrine,
Or the poor offerings of the world could move a soul like thine!
And once I had as soon believed that one of heavenly birth,
Fresh from its native paradise, could thus descend to earth.
When hand in hand, and heart to heart, we wandered mid the flowers?
Each look so softly eloquent, though all in silence given,
When thou and I together stood beneath the moon-lit heaven?
But mine was never sought beyond those dark angelic eyes—
Whose radiance would not let me mark the starry Indian skies.
And when their gentle glances met and answered mine again,
What words couldst thou have spoken to make me happier then?
184
So closely round my heart of hearts, could fade so soon from thine?
The words so fondly spoken were uttered all in vain!
The hands once twined so tenderly shall ne'er be clasped again!
And one who seemed too pure of heart on this cold earth to live,
Has yielded to the common hopes and fears that earth can give!
That thou couldst lay one thought, one wish upon its sordid shrine,
Or the poor offerings of the world could move a soul like thine!
And once I had as soon believed that one of heavenly birth,
Fresh from its native paradise, could thus descend to earth.
[OMITTED]
185
Yet e'en wert thou less pure of soul—less true than once I thought,
(As who can hope to dwell below, and yet offend in nought?)
'Twere sweet, yet sad to know that thou wert not so far above
The being who so wildly sought, though ne'er deserved thy love—
Who still would cheer and soothe thee, alike through good and ill,
And for the sake of her thou wast, would love and trust thee still.
(As who can hope to dwell below, and yet offend in nought?)
'Twere sweet, yet sad to know that thou wert not so far above
The being who so wildly sought, though ne'er deserved thy love—
Who still would cheer and soothe thee, alike through good and ill,
And for the sake of her thou wast, would love and trust thee still.
Farewell! perchance forever—thou wilt be happy yet,—
And I—if aught can ever teach the lesson—to forget.
A task thou hast so lightly learned, that now it well may be
Thou hast forgotten that he lives, who only lived for thee.
And I—if aught can ever teach the lesson—to forget.
A task thou hast so lightly learned, that now it well may be
Thou hast forgotten that he lives, who only lived for thee.
And thou wilt smile as softly, to hear another's tone,
And other hands may clasp the form, that once was all my own.
Another and another heart, in turn, may wear thy chain,—
Yet know!—thou hast been loved as thou wilt ne'er be loved again.
And other hands may clasp the form, that once was all my own.
186
Yet know!—thou hast been loved as thou wilt ne'er be loved again.
'Tis idle, idle parting—yet, fare thee well once more!
Farewell, ye calm unclouded skies! thou ever sunny shore!
The night is darkly closing—the winds are rising free—
And slowly, sadly sinks the sun beneath the western sea.
His last faint beams yet linger—then one by one depart.
A darker and a deeper gloom is gathering o'er my heart.
Farewell, ye calm unclouded skies! thou ever sunny shore!
The night is darkly closing—the winds are rising free—
And slowly, sadly sinks the sun beneath the western sea.
His last faint beams yet linger—then one by one depart.
A darker and a deeper gloom is gathering o'er my heart.
| Poems | |