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Fantasy and Passion

Fawcett, Edgar (1847-1904)

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[section]
  
[dedication]
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I. MINORCHORDS.
  
SEA-GULLS.
  
REVERIE.
  
AN INTERIOR.
  
AN OLD TEA-CUP.
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AFFINITIES.
 1. 
I.
 2. 
II.
  
TO THE EVENING STAR.
  
A HUMMING-BIRD.
  
TO AN ORIOLE.
  
HEAT-LIGHTNING.
  
CLOUDS.
  
A STRAGGLER.
  
WATER-LILIES.
  
FANTAISIE DE PRINTEMPS.
  
ANALOGIES.
  
RARITY.
  
VIOLETS IN WINTER.
  
IMMORTELLES.
  
TO A TEA-ROSE.
  
WILD ROSES.
  
A TUBEROSE.
  
IVY.
  
HEMLOCKS.
  
THE ACORN.
  
FERNS.
  
MOSS.
  
LEAVES.
  
CLOVER.
  
GRAPES.
  
A TOAD.
  
WEEDS.
  
A BAT.
  
BOX.
  
DEW.
  
FIREFLIES.
  
FOUR DAYS.
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II. VOICES AND VISIONS.
  
THE HOUSE ON THE HILL.
  
FIDELITAS.
  
ADORATION.
  
IF TRULY.
  
DARKNESS.
  
HIS CHILD.
  
SELF-DECEPTION.
  
CHIAROSCURO.
  
A BIRD OF PASSAGE.
  
A LEAVE-TAKING.
  
VESTA.
  
ONE NIGHT IN SEVILLE.
  
BARCAROLLE.
  
CRADLE-SONG.
  
ONE MAY NIGHT.
  
FORGETFULNESS.
  
SOUVENIR.
  
THE MEETING.
  
D'OUTRE MORT.
  
FROM SHADOWLAND.
  
PEST.
  
WINE.
  
TO-MORROW.
  
DEGREE.
  
THE ATONEMENT.
  
TIGER TO TIGRESS.
  
JAEL.
  
VIOLANTE.
  
MOZART'S REQUIEM.
  
BEHIND HISTORY.
  
THE STATUETTE.
  
INDIVIDUALITY.
  
ORDER.
  
CONCEPTION.
  
FAME.
  
CRITICISM.
  
ATTAINMENT.
  
A KING.
  
WINDS.
  
THE COMET.
  
THE ICEBERG.
  
PERSPECTIVES.
  
THE MOON IN THE CITY.
  
FIRE.
  
DECAY.
  
WASTE.
  
DECORATION DAY.
  
CUSTER.
  
CUBA.
  
ALBERT F. WEBSTER, JR.
  
TO EDWIN BOOTH.
  
THE SCHOLAR'S SWEETHEART.
  
LA BELLE HÉLÈNE.
  
GENTLEMAN JO.
  
PIPES AND BEER.
  
TO AN OLD STREET-LAMP.
  
A BARNYARD ECLOGUE.
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III. SONNETS.
  
ART.
  
GENIUS.
  
SLEEP.
  
TO ---.
  
THE CITY.
  
KINDLINESS.
  
COMMONPLACES.
  
CITY WINDOWS.
  
A THISTLE.
  
MAPLES.
  
A COBWEB.
  
AN OCTOBER DAY.
  
A WILLOW-TREE.
  
THISTLEDOWN.
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FABRICS.
  
I. VELVET.
  
II. SATIN.
  
III. BROCADE.
  
THE OLD MIRROR.
  
EARTHQUAKE.
  
TO F. S. S.
  
MEDUSA.
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ANTIPODES.
 1. 
I. POE.
 2. 
II. WHITTIER.
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CAMEOS.
 1. 
I. THACKERAY.
 2. 
II. DICKENS.
 3. 
III. KEATS.
 4. 
IV. DUMAS, PÈRE.
 5. 
V. HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
 6. 
VI. HERBERT SPENCER.
 7. 
VII. GUSTAVE DORÉ.
 8. 
VIII. BAUDELAIRE.

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65

HIS CHILD.

(A Woman speaks.)

Ah, how may finite language tell
The boundless pain of that farewell!
At last I pleaded, speaking low
Between great sobs, “In mercy go!”
He did not speak, but, stooping now,
Laid one long kiss against my brow!
Then, when a little space had flown,
I stood for evermore alone!
Wounded in spirit, dazed, aghast,
I had no future but my past!
Yet time, that heeds not joys or fears,
Inexorably shaped its years.
But years like weak waves broke above
The changeless granite of my love!
The world, that thought this love was dead,
Praised the sweet woman he had wed!
I heard its praise; I gave no sign;
Yet ah! what agony was mine!
66

Within my life there came a day
When past his home my journey lay.
The lawns flowed wide in grassy seas,
The house was hid with stately trees;
And in the gateway, sweetly fair,
A young child stood, with shining hair.
I paused a moment by the gate. ...
I trembled with a deadly hate!
In this frail child I seemed to see
My own despair confronting me!
Yet while I watched the child, there stole
A lovely change across my soul!
He gazed upon me in surprise;
He thrilled me with his father's eyes!
Then, as I gently drew more near,
He gently smiled, and had no fear.
And now, all feeling unrepressed,
I knelt and caught him to my breast!
And blinded with hot tears, I now
Laid one long kiss against his brow!
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