 | Longfellow's boyhood poems |  |
50
[VALENTINE]
Lady! if a poor child of song
May ask awhile thy serious ear,
And he that wooed thy love so long,
Can find a willing listener here,—
I have a tale to tell thee now
Of blighted heart and broken vow.
May ask awhile thy serious ear,
And he that wooed thy love so long,
Can find a willing listener here,—
I have a tale to tell thee now
Of blighted heart and broken vow.
Aye, of a heart in bright hours cleft,
As cities sacked by day are left;—
A life, that wearing to a close
Low in its socket starts and glows:—
Of one whose love should merit thine,
Dying, a slighted Valentine.
As cities sacked by day are left;—
A life, that wearing to a close
Low in its socket starts and glows:—
Of one whose love should merit thine,
Dying, a slighted Valentine.
Lady!—to-morrow's sun will see
Life's cheerful banquet closed for me;
But changing sun and shower shall long
Pass o'er the voiceless child of song,
Ere carved stone where he sleeps secure
Shall say, “Here rests a Troubadour.”
Life's cheerful banquet closed for me;
But changing sun and shower shall long
Pass o'er the voiceless child of song,
Ere carved stone where he sleeps secure
Shall say, “Here rests a Troubadour.”
The grave!—the grave!—'tis the last altar
To which our weary feet can falter!
Its fire gone out—its censer cold—
Its ashes mingling with earth's mould!
Farewell!—for me 't is sweet to die,
When thine own life is blessed thereby.
To which our weary feet can falter!
Its fire gone out—its censer cold—
Its ashes mingling with earth's mould!
Farewell!—for me 't is sweet to die,
When thine own life is blessed thereby.
October 1, 1825
| Longfellow's boyhood poems | |