 | Impressions of Italy and Other Poems |  |
150
FRIEND, GENTLEST FRIEND.
Friend—gentlest Friend—still turn thine eye,
On Nature's charms, seek her the most,
So shall with kindling pulse beat high
Thy young warm heart, by fears uncrost.
On Nature's charms, seek her the most,
So shall with kindling pulse beat high
Thy young warm heart, by fears uncrost.
Be thine her stars, her flowers, her springs,
The glory spread o'er every part;
The poetry her aspect brings,
Unto the quick and watchful heart.
The glory spread o'er every part;
The poetry her aspect brings,
Unto the quick and watchful heart.
Yet ah!—'tis vain—for well I know
How deeply, brightly, was enshrined,
Before my slavery and my woe,
That more than passion in my mind!
How deeply, brightly, was enshrined,
Before my slavery and my woe,
That more than passion in my mind!
151
Alas! the love of lovely things,
Of stars, flowers, sunshine, music, birds,
Of smiling skies, and silvery springs,
And Poetry's own magic words.
Of stars, flowers, sunshine, music, birds,
Of smiling skies, and silvery springs,
And Poetry's own magic words.
Alas! the love of these shields not
From pain and sorrow and dismay,
Or less unhappy were my lot,
Less lowering were my life's brief day!
From pain and sorrow and dismay,
Or less unhappy were my lot,
Less lowering were my life's brief day!
We love—we love—but I know well,
That when the heart's engrossed—enchained,
Those thousand loves but strengthening swell
The one Love, deeply there contained!
That when the heart's engrossed—enchained,
Those thousand loves but strengthening swell
The one Love, deeply there contained!
| Impressions of Italy and Other Poems | |