 | The heir of the world, and lesser poems |  |
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THE PARTING.
The night was dark, the hour was still,
The sky was clouded like my heart,
When, seated on the midnight hill,
Unseen, I saw my love depart—
Depart forever from my eyes,
Mid joyous friends and jubilee,
A doomed yet smiling sacrifice—
Oh! didst thou, Love! then think of me?
The sky was clouded like my heart,
When, seated on the midnight hill,
Unseen, I saw my love depart—
Depart forever from my eyes,
Mid joyous friends and jubilee,
A doomed yet smiling sacrifice—
Oh! didst thou, Love! then think of me?
I heard thee often say farewell—
Methought thy sweet voice spake in tears—
Thy heart's deep tears—I cannot tell,
For now the scene is dim with years;
But oft I heard thy fond adieu,
As thou wert passing then away—
I never after guessed or knew
Why thou didst linger by the bay.
Methought thy sweet voice spake in tears—
Thy heart's deep tears—I cannot tell,
For now the scene is dim with years;
But oft I heard thy fond adieu,
As thou wert passing then away—
I never after guessed or knew
Why thou didst linger by the bay.
Perchance, familiar scenes and dear,
Loved, lost, sweet scenes of blighted love,
Wrung from thy heart a last, quick tear,
A farewell to our old, dim grove;
And it might be that thou didst gaze
Upon those scenes and think of me
As one beloved in happier days—
Now doomed to life's worst destiny.
Loved, lost, sweet scenes of blighted love,
Wrung from thy heart a last, quick tear,
A farewell to our old, dim grove;
And it might be that thou didst gaze
Upon those scenes and think of me
As one beloved in happier days—
Now doomed to life's worst destiny.
Yet outward gladness beamed around thee,
And cheerful was thy brow and eye,
Though the dark chain of fate, that bound thee
Weighed heavily when none were nigh;
And fearfully, in many a throng,
Came hurrying thoughts of other hours,
As I beheld thee borne along—
Sweet victim to unpitying powers!
And cheerful was thy brow and eye,
Though the dark chain of fate, that bound thee
Weighed heavily when none were nigh;
247
Came hurrying thoughts of other hours,
As I beheld thee borne along—
Sweet victim to unpitying powers!
My heart throbbed madly when the sail
Swelled forward in the summer wind—
I cannot tell the harrowing tale—
But thou didst leave a wretch behind!
—Dark dreams came o'er me—visions flew
Mid flame and darkness o'er my brain,
And wilder still my spirit grew
Each moment in its penal pain.
Swelled forward in the summer wind—
I cannot tell the harrowing tale—
But thou didst leave a wretch behind!
—Dark dreams came o'er me—visions flew
Mid flame and darkness o'er my brain,
And wilder still my spirit grew
Each moment in its penal pain.
Oh! hast thou lost the best and dearest,
The light, the heaven of heart and mind?
—Tell me what 'tis on earth thou fearest
When every hope is left behind!
—I woke at last; the dawn o'erspread
The rosy earth—the rich blue sky,
But brought no gladness to the dead,
The breathing dead—who could not die!
The light, the heaven of heart and mind?
—Tell me what 'tis on earth thou fearest
When every hope is left behind!
—I woke at last; the dawn o'erspread
The rosy earth—the rich blue sky,
But brought no gladness to the dead,
The breathing dead—who could not die!
| The heir of the world, and lesser poems | |