 | Lays of Leisure Hours |  |
OH! COULD'ST THOU KNOW.
Oh! could'st thou know, who never felt
The melancholy bliss of tears,
Thou'dst die with envy when I melt
In floods that bear the wrecks of years.
The melancholy bliss of tears,
Thou'dst die with envy when I melt
In floods that bear the wrecks of years.
For with that weeping's effort soon
Old words, old dreams, old thoughts are stirred,
And tides that do not serve the Moon,
Heave wildly—nor will be deterred.
Old words, old dreams, old thoughts are stirred,
And tides that do not serve the Moon,
Heave wildly—nor will be deterred.
117
Dark waves, that long had closed above
The wrecks of happiest thoughts and ties,
The precious things of stricken love,
Then to the surface bid them rise!
The wrecks of happiest thoughts and ties,
The precious things of stricken love,
Then to the surface bid them rise!
The Past is all mine own again,
And I am Love's and Joy's once more!
And I awake alone to pain,
When that rich burst of grief is o'er.
And I am Love's and Joy's once more!
And I awake alone to pain,
When that rich burst of grief is o'er.
Oh! could'st thou know or guess how deep
The joy of tears can be, though vain,
Thou'dst die with envy when I weep,
Nor ever wish to smile again!
The joy of tears can be, though vain,
Thou'dst die with envy when I weep,
Nor ever wish to smile again!
For ere that bliss be made our own,
The Soul must half be raised above,
Ere that unearthly joy be known,
The Heart must thrill with Heavenly love.
The Soul must half be raised above,
Ere that unearthly joy be known,
The Heart must thrill with Heavenly love.
118
Then could'st thou, could'st thou dream or know
What raptures still these fond tears steep,
Thou'dst covet then my cherished woe,
And die with envy when I weep!
What raptures still these fond tears steep,
Thou'dst covet then my cherished woe,
And die with envy when I weep!
| Lays of Leisure Hours | |