 | Songs and Poems from 1819 to 1879 |  |
63
OH! NOT BY THE RIVER.
Oh, not by the river, though bright be its tide,
And fragrant the flowers that fringe its fair side;
Nor yet in the lime grove, although its deep shade
Seems a shelter for lovers by Love himself made;
Not there be our meeting, the stream and the bower
Have witnessed fond vows that were broke in an hour:
The murmuring wave and the whispering tree
Are full of sad warnings! Not there let it be.
And fragrant the flowers that fringe its fair side;
Nor yet in the lime grove, although its deep shade
Seems a shelter for lovers by Love himself made;
Not there be our meeting, the stream and the bower
Have witnessed fond vows that were broke in an hour:
The murmuring wave and the whispering tree
Are full of sad warnings! Not there let it be.
And not in the valley, its emerald green
With tears of repentance oft watered hath been;
Nor yet on the cliff, for its forehead so bare
Hath rung with the shriek of a lost one's despair!
“Then where,” dost thou ask me, “say where shall we meet?”
“Where shall solitude render love's sweet voice more sweet?”
Go, find me the spot upon mount or in glade,
Where woman hath listened and man not betrayed!
With tears of repentance oft watered hath been;
Nor yet on the cliff, for its forehead so bare
Hath rung with the shriek of a lost one's despair!
64
“Where shall solitude render love's sweet voice more sweet?”
Go, find me the spot upon mount or in glade,
Where woman hath listened and man not betrayed!
February 10th, 1847.
| Songs and Poems from 1819 to 1879 | |