 | Poetical remains (1872) |  |
41
To Myself.
Written in a melancholy mood on my 18th birthday.
O'ercome by grief's oppressive weight
My soul in anguish lies;
Lamenting follies past, too late
She breathes these hopeless sighs.
My soul in anguish lies;
Lamenting follies past, too late
She breathes these hopeless sighs.
But what avails the pensive hour,
The nurse of secret woe?
O'er moments gone no tears have pow'r,
To bid them backward flow.
The nurse of secret woe?
O'er moments gone no tears have pow'r,
To bid them backward flow.
Then let not care's corrosive smart
Upon my vitals prey;
Infusing poison in that heart,
So blythe erewhile and gay.
Upon my vitals prey;
Infusing poison in that heart,
So blythe erewhile and gay.
Too gay alas! for my repose;
Thence spring what I endure;
Sad thoughts of unavailing woes,
Which time alone can cure.
Thence spring what I endure;
Sad thoughts of unavailing woes,
Which time alone can cure.
42
Yes! Time shall bid these streaming tears,
These struggling murmurs, cease;
Shall dissipate my doubts and fears,
And all again be peace.
These struggling murmurs, cease;
Shall dissipate my doubts and fears,
And all again be peace.
How have I wasted eighteen years!
For now I must reflect;
Alas! the dreary space appears
One blank of long neglect.
For now I must reflect;
Alas! the dreary space appears
One blank of long neglect.
Farewell to vain and empty mirth!
Ye giddy flights, adieu!
Since noise and folly gave you birth
I'll think no more of you.
Ye giddy flights, adieu!
Since noise and folly gave you birth
I'll think no more of you.
Come Resignation, meek eyed maid!
Thy soothing influence lend
To one who now implores thy aid
His weakness to befriend.
Thy soothing influence lend
To one who now implores thy aid
His weakness to befriend.
But whence this change? Why is my heart
With sudden grief opprest?
Why do these new objections start?
These doubts again molest?
With sudden grief opprest?
Why do these new objections start?
These doubts again molest?
43
My wonted pleasures please no more;
They aggravate my pain:
From books, which charmed me so before,
I seek relief in vain.
They aggravate my pain:
From books, which charmed me so before,
I seek relief in vain.
From thought I fly:—for much I fear
To know whence this proceeds;
That why, tho' I so gay appear,
My heart in secret bleeds.
To know whence this proceeds;
That why, tho' I so gay appear,
My heart in secret bleeds.
Then rest, my griefs:—alone display'd
To that All-seeing mind
Who knows the creature which He made,
And dooms in justice kind.
To that All-seeing mind
Who knows the creature which He made,
And dooms in justice kind.
| Poetical remains (1872) | |