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WISHES.
Wild, stormy spirit! would'st that thou
Wert cold and tranquil as my brow!
Unquenched, unquenchable thou art,
And kindled by a burning heart.
Wert cold and tranquil as my brow!
Unquenched, unquenchable thou art,
And kindled by a burning heart.
O for a draught of Lethe's stream!
O for a child's long happy dream!
For tears—deep tears, that might efface
From my dark soul bleak sorrow's trace!
O for a child's long happy dream!
For tears—deep tears, that might efface
From my dark soul bleak sorrow's trace!
Or for a dreamless, breathless rest!—
Calm as the cloud-worlds of the west;
Like them at last to melt away,
Surviving not the golden day!
Calm as the cloud-worlds of the west;
Like them at last to melt away,
Surviving not the golden day!
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Or for a mind of loftier powers,
To struggle with these earth-bound hours!
For thoughts like sun-birds, that would rush
Where sunshine-fountains leap and gush!
To struggle with these earth-bound hours!
For thoughts like sun-birds, that would rush
Where sunshine-fountains leap and gush!
Yet, wherefore wish!—'tis weak, 'tis vain,
'Tis sin, and vanity, and pain:
O pray alone to be forgiven—
Leave, leave the rest, my soul, to Heaven!
'Tis sin, and vanity, and pain:
O pray alone to be forgiven—
Leave, leave the rest, my soul, to Heaven!
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