Narcissus and Other Poems By E. Carpenter |
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A PORTRAIT.
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 | Narcissus and Other Poems |  |
169
A PORTRAIT.
I scarcely ever learnt to know her face,
For still, whene'er I gazed, my thoughts would fly
Backward through fields of memory, in chase
Of some faint flying gleam, some kindred grace
Caught from a clearer sky.
For still, whene'er I gazed, my thoughts would fly
Backward through fields of memory, in chase
Of some faint flying gleam, some kindred grace
Caught from a clearer sky.
And yet I learnt to love the smile that fled
From her sweet lips to nestle in her eye,
I loved the clustered hair about her head,
The thick dark masses which were wont to shed
A darker mystery.
From her sweet lips to nestle in her eye,
I loved the clustered hair about her head,
The thick dark masses which were wont to shed
A darker mystery.
I loved the marvel of her quiet days,
Her free fair confidence of happy thought:
As one who ever went about her ways
Not careless, not o'er-careful of men's praise,
Nor envious of aught;
Her free fair confidence of happy thought:
As one who ever went about her ways
Not careless, not o'er-careful of men's praise,
Nor envious of aught;
170
O great was she in woman's faith, and strong,
And she was clothed about with woman's love,
Her life was but a part of one sweet song
Which ever in low cadence moved along,
And ever so shall move.
And she was clothed about with woman's love,
Her life was but a part of one sweet song
Which ever in low cadence moved along,
And ever so shall move.
So, as I gazed, my fetters fell to ground;
One moment like a bird uncaged I stood;
Then, soaring through th' immeasurable round,
My spirit scanned the starry depths and found
In her its only good.
One moment like a bird uncaged I stood;
Then, soaring through th' immeasurable round,
My spirit scanned the starry depths and found
In her its only good.
| Narcissus and Other Poems | |