Poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

Dear shade of him my heart holds more than dear,
Author of all that fond heart's purest bliss;
Dear shade, I hail thee with a rapturous tear,
And welcome thee with many a tender kiss!

II

Beneath thy mimic tints, ah! let me find
Each often-gaz'd on feature, each lov'd trait;
Each emanation of the perfect mind,
Reflection's frown, and fancy's smiling ray!

III

This brow indeed is his; broad, candid, fair,
Where nature's honest characters are wrote;
But o'er the beauteous transcript, morbid Care
And Time, of late, their ruthless fingers smote!

IV

And this th'expressive eye, whose glance I've woo'd,
(For ah! beneath that glance each task seem'd light;)
I've seen this eye with tears of fondness dew'd,
And through the lucid radiance beam more bright.

V

Seen it transfix'd with sweet, approving gaze,
On some saint strain the youthful muse inspir'd;
Seen it for hours pursue the pencil's maze,
With parent pride, and partial fondness fir'd!

VI

Seen it effuse enthusiasm's beam,
While o'er the simple lays his girls respired;

He fondly hung as in a raptur'd dream,
Charm'd by those powers his taste and care inspired!

VII

But painter, far above thy wond'rous art
Were these dear lips;—dear lips where ever play'd
The smile benignant, where the honest heart
In undisguis'd effusions, careless strayed!

VIII

Dear lips where oft each fond endearment glow'd,
Less prompt to emanate reproof than praise;
Dear lips from whence the anxious counsel flow'd,
The moral precepts, or amusive lays.

IX

These shoulders too I've climbed to steal a kiss,
These locks my infant hands have oft carest;
These arms I oft have fill'd, and shared the bliss,
For ah! with me, these arms a sister prest!

X

Twin objects of the tenderest father's care,
A mother's loss we rather knew than felt;
Twin objects still of every ardent prayer,
On whom each thought, each fear, each fond hope dwelt!

XI

Come then, thou thrice dear shade, for ah! no more,
Thou true and lov'd resemblance will we part;
For till the last faint thrill of life is o'er,
Dear shade I'll wear thee next my beating heart!