Valentine Verses :: :: University of Virginia Library

I wander'd with the maiden of my mind,
On wing of spirit, o'er the glassy lake:
We sweetly flew like swallow in the air
In sunny morning; one while, skimming near
The smooth and placid surface, then again
At other, rising to the pure blue sky.
We bent our way instinctively along,
Not knowing whither; over hills and meads,
O'er rocks and groves, and rivers; light and shade
So gently blended, that one glorious gleam
Of splendor, full of beauty, seem'd to play
In lucid loveliness. And yet we flew,
Onward proceeding, with unconscious wing,
Attracted forcibly we knew not how,
Nor felt unwilling. Dangers there were none,—
Nor interruptions, sorrows, or sad words,
Looks full of peace, contentment, and delight,

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Dwelt in our smiles, as chasing each in turn
The other playfully pursued. We past a range
Of lofty wooded mountains, and at once
Descended on a lake so clear and bright,
That every fish of gold and silver hue,
Bespang'd the sparkling deep.—Ourselves were seen,
The very maiden match'd with Spirit's form,
So like mine own, it seem'd to be the same;
And nought but passage of the finny race,
Could so disturb the likeness, we could tell
Those forms were shadows. Now we seem'd to pause,
And hunger came upon us, mix'd with thirst;
We spake our wants, but resting not our wings,
They bore us straightway to a standing tree
With fruit o'erloaded, but methought not fair,
Not speck'd, but whole. We look'd around again,
To see if other more of comely kind
Were nigh at hand; but disinclin'd to fly,
I took and ate; and oh, I cannot tell
How sweet the food! Extatic was the dart
I gave that instant, to the kindred soul
Which hover'd near me;—bade her take and eat;
'Twas sweet beyond the compass of delight,
And when she ate, O never could the sun
More lovely seem! We look'd upon the tree:—
Twelve branches rose aspiring from one stem,

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Each stem, produced twelve thousand full-siz'd fruit,
And where we took another grew again,
That nought were wanting. We were soon refresh'd,
Refresh'd indeed.—New vigor seem'd to breathe
A food of life within us, whilst our minds
Expanded to the study of ourselves,
And every moment newly fram'd ideas
Pour'd in incessantly; and, strange to say,
Not one was lost, but every one we gain'd
Some beauty added to the rest attain'd.
Alas, my soul! alas I look in pain,
For such a Dream of Bliss to come again.