Willie Winkie and Other Songs and Poems By William Miller: Edited, with an Introduction by Robert Ford |
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The Poet's Last Song.
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 | Willie Winkie and Other Songs and Poems |  |
The Poet's Last Song.
Heart—heart be still,
Thy fond aspirings cease,
Thy cup of misery soon shall fill—
So be at peace.
Thy fond aspirings cease,
Thy cup of misery soon shall fill—
So be at peace.
25
Life! fleeting life!
Thy sunniest hours are past,
Why seek thee to prolong the dark'ning strife
With it to last.
Thy sunniest hours are past,
Why seek thee to prolong the dark'ning strife
With it to last.
Bring me my lyre,
I yet may sweep its strings,
'Twill aid the visions that life's flickering fire
In rapture brings.
I yet may sweep its strings,
'Twill aid the visions that life's flickering fire
In rapture brings.
Earth! sea! and sky!
I see thy hallowed spots—
My soul, even now, is treading daringly
Where beauty floats.
I see thy hallowed spots—
My soul, even now, is treading daringly
Where beauty floats.
Round sunny hill—
Now in leafy grove,
Where birds make music that the soul doth fill
With thoughts of love.
Now in leafy grove,
Where birds make music that the soul doth fill
With thoughts of love.
And thou, dread sea!
My youthful days return,
Pictured in vision, in my soul, I see
Thee, and do mourn:
My youthful days return,
Pictured in vision, in my soul, I see
Thee, and do mourn:
That I may ne'er
Again lie on thy breast,
Pillow my cheek upon thy waves, nor e'er
Break thy foam crest.
Again lie on thy breast,
Pillow my cheek upon thy waves, nor e'er
Break thy foam crest.
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God of the sky—
How oft at eventide,
When thou to rest were sinking gloriously,
Have I beside
Some ruin gray,
Knelt down and worshipped thee!
How oft at eventide,
When thou to rest were sinking gloriously,
Have I beside
Some ruin gray,
Knelt down and worshipped thee!
'Tis broke—'tis broke—
The chain is snapt—the link
Of being sever'd—man living—death may mock
Not on the brink
The chain is snapt—the link
Of being sever'd—man living—death may mock
Not on the brink
Where life meets death.
My song is done—away!
Open the lattice that the summer's breath
May coolly play
My song is done—away!
Open the lattice that the summer's breath
May coolly play
Upon my brow.
Life now throbs—fitfully—
By starts 'tis calm, as if it linger'd—now
On wings I fly
To love and home—
I see them vividly—
Life now throbs—fitfully—
By starts 'tis calm, as if it linger'd—now
On wings I fly
To love and home—
I see them vividly—
Now let me die.
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