 | A Song of Labour and Other Poems |  |
55
AGNES.
A Study from Dickens.
In quiet moments, when my thoughts depart
For their sweet home within the silent land,
A maiden rises far within my heart,
And points in silence with uplifted hand:
For their sweet home within the silent land,
A maiden rises far within my heart,
And points in silence with uplifted hand:
Points with uplifted hand to the blue skies
That beam in sunny glory far above,
And on her brow their light, and in her eyes
The glow of ever deep and patient love.
That beam in sunny glory far above,
And on her brow their light, and in her eyes
The glow of ever deep and patient love.
Then soft, as if beneath some holy balm,
I whisper, “Agnes, O my soul,” and she
Turns for a moment in her saint-like calm,
And smiles her old sweet smile, and looks at me.
I whisper, “Agnes, O my soul,” and she
Turns for a moment in her saint-like calm,
And smiles her old sweet smile, and looks at me.
Ah, in that look how much of womanly power
And truth and trust is hid, to fall, like rain
When summer fields await such quick'ning dower,
On some worn human breast, to still its pain.
And truth and trust is hid, to fall, like rain
When summer fields await such quick'ning dower,
On some worn human breast, to still its pain.
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And all my being feeling this, I bow
Before the maiden as she stands, and take
My life's sure guidance from her noble brow,
That wears its soft compassion for my sake.
Before the maiden as she stands, and take
My life's sure guidance from her noble brow,
That wears its soft compassion for my sake.
So Agnes claims my love, for still she seems
Girt in her youth and truth and purer day;
The sweetest of the mighty Master's dreams
He gave to time before he pass'd away.
Girt in her youth and truth and purer day;
The sweetest of the mighty Master's dreams
He gave to time before he pass'd away.
Therefore, O Agnes! stand thou in my heart,
Breathing around thee all thy trust and love,
And pointing upward when life's hopes depart
To other realms in endless life above.
Breathing around thee all thy trust and love,
And pointing upward when life's hopes depart
To other realms in endless life above.
| A Song of Labour and Other Poems | |