 | [Poems by Woolson in] Constance Fenimore Woolson |  |
THE HAUNTING FACE.
I said: “I will not know thee whence thou art,
And, though thou livest, thou art dead to me;
I seal thee in thy coffin, far apart
From all my life, from all my memory;
I weight thee down with firm resolve and scorn,
Within thy outcast's grave to lie forlorn.”
And yet, thou hauntest me!
And, though thou livest, thou art dead to me;
I seal thee in thy coffin, far apart
From all my life, from all my memory;
I weight thee down with firm resolve and scorn,
Within thy outcast's grave to lie forlorn.”
And yet, thou hauntest me!
I said: “O face, I bring thee all my gold,
With jewels, sandal-wood and spices rare;
I bring the dearest years my life doth hold,
With hoarded memories, and dreamings fair,
To build a royal tomb where thou in state
Shalt lie, with guard of honour at the gate.”
And yet, thou hauntest me!
With jewels, sandal-wood and spices rare;
I bring the dearest years my life doth hold,
With hoarded memories, and dreamings fair,
To build a royal tomb where thou in state
Shalt lie, with guard of honour at the gate.”
And yet, thou hauntest me!
I said: “Thou art not beautiful, O face!
Thy cheeks are wan; thy far-off eyes are dim.
But here is one with budding youthful grace,
Who proffers me a cup filled to the brim
With life's elixir. See! I quaff its wine,
While love's enchantment, to the full, is mine.”
And yet, thou hauntest me!
Thy cheeks are wan; thy far-off eyes are dim.
But here is one with budding youthful grace,
Who proffers me a cup filled to the brim
With life's elixir. See! I quaff its wine,
While love's enchantment, to the full, is mine.”
And yet, thou hauntest me!
548
I said: “The wonders of the world are vast;
Mine eyes shall see them.” Forth I go in quest
Of the red-belted lightning, coming fast
From out the east, and shining toward the west;
I hunt the northern lights o'er icebergs high,
I seek the star-cross in the southern sky.
And yet, thou hauntest me!
Mine eyes shall see them.” Forth I go in quest
Of the red-belted lightning, coming fast
From out the east, and shining toward the west;
I hunt the northern lights o'er icebergs high,
I seek the star-cross in the southern sky.
And yet, thou hauntest me!
I said: “My heart is failing me for fear;
My schemes are shadows and my hopes a dream;
I grasp them, and behold! they disappear—
Nor loves, nor friends, nor joys, are what they seem.
I will begin anew; I will subject
Myself, and live the straitest of my sect.”
And yet, thou hauntest me!
My schemes are shadows and my hopes a dream;
I grasp them, and behold! they disappear—
Nor loves, nor friends, nor joys, are what they seem.
I will begin anew; I will subject
Myself, and live the straitest of my sect.”
And yet, thou hauntest me!
I said: “Art here again, O haunting face?
Speak, then, and take my curse!” The pale lips part:
“Thy life's one love thou canst not thus efface—
I but reflect the image in thine heart;
Thine own heart knows me, though thy lips may lie;
O, false to thine own self! it cannot die,
This love that haunteth thee!”
Speak, then, and take my curse!” The pale lips part:
“Thy life's one love thou canst not thus efface—
I but reflect the image in thine heart;
Thine own heart knows me, though thy lips may lie;
O, false to thine own self! it cannot die,
This love that haunteth thee!”
Constance Fenimore Woolson.
| [Poems by Woolson in] Constance Fenimore Woolson | |