The Poetical Works of Caroline Bowles Southey Collected Edition |
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ON THE REMOVAL OF SOME FAMILY PORTRAITS. |
 | The Poetical Works of Caroline Bowles Southey |  |
212
ON THE REMOVAL OF SOME FAMILY PORTRAITS.
Silent friends! fare ye well—
Shadows! adieu.
Living friends long I've lost,
Now I lose you.
Shadows! adieu.
Living friends long I've lost,
Now I lose you.
Bitter tears many I've shed,
Ye've seen them flow;
Dreary hours many I've sped,
Full well ye know.
Ye've seen them flow;
Dreary hours many I've sped,
Full well ye know.
Yet in my loneliness,
Kindly, methought,
Still ye looked down on me,
Mocking me not
Kindly, methought,
Still ye looked down on me,
Mocking me not
With light speech and hollow words,
Grating so sore
The sad heart, with many ills
Sick to the core.
Grating so sore
The sad heart, with many ills
Sick to the core.
Then, if my clouded skies
Brightened awhile,
Seemed your soft serious eyes
Almost to smile.
Brightened awhile,
Seemed your soft serious eyes
Almost to smile.
Silent friends! fare ye well—
Shadows! adieu.
Living friends long I've lost,
Now I lose you.
Shadows! adieu.
Living friends long I've lost,
Now I lose you.
213
Taken from hearth and board,
When all were gone;
I looked up at you, and felt
Not quite alone.
When all were gone;
I looked up at you, and felt
Not quite alone.
Not quite companionless,
While in each face
Met me familiar
The stamp of my race.
While in each face
Met me familiar
The stamp of my race.
Thine, gentle ancestress!
Dove-eyed and fair,
Melting in sympathy
Oft for my care.
Dove-eyed and fair,
Melting in sympathy
Oft for my care.
Grim Knight and stern visaged!
Yet could I see,
Smoothing that furrowed face,
Good-will to me.
Yet could I see,
Smoothing that furrowed face,
Good-will to me.
Bland looks were beaming
Upon me, I knew,
Fair sir!—bonnie lady!—
From you, and from you.
Upon me, I knew,
Fair sir!—bonnie lady!—
From you, and from you.
Little think happy ones,
Heart-circled round,
How fast to senseless things
Hearts may be bound;
Heart-circled round,
How fast to senseless things
Hearts may be bound;
How when the living prop's
Mouldered and gone,
Heart-strings, low trailing left,
Clasp the cold stone.
Mouldered and gone,
Heart-strings, low trailing left,
Clasp the cold stone.
214
Silent friends! fare ye well—
Shadows! adieu.
Living friends long I've lost,
Now I lose you.
Shadows! adieu.
Living friends long I've lost,
Now I lose you.
Often, when spirit-vexed,
Weary and worn,
To your quiet faces, mute
Friends, would I turn.
Weary and worn,
To your quiet faces, mute
Friends, would I turn.
Soft as I gazed on them,
Soothing as balm,
Lulling the passion-storm,
Stole your deep calm—
Soothing as balm,
Lulling the passion-storm,
Stole your deep calm—
Till, as I longer looked,
Surely, methought,
Ye read and replied to
My questioning thought.
Surely, methought,
Ye read and replied to
My questioning thought.
“Daughter,” ye softly said—
“Peace to thine heart:
We too—yes, daughter! have
Been as thou art,
“Peace to thine heart:
We too—yes, daughter! have
Been as thou art,
“Tossed on the troubled waves,
Life's stormy sea;
Chance and change manifold
Proving like thee.
Life's stormy sea;
Chance and change manifold
Proving like thee.
“Hope-lifted—doubt-depressed—
Seeing in part—
Tried—troubled—tempted—
Sustained as thou art—
Seeing in part—
Tried—troubled—tempted—
Sustained as thou art—
215
“Our God is thy God—what He
Willeth is best—
Trust him as we trusted: then
Rest, as we rest.”
Willeth is best—
Trust him as we trusted: then
Rest, as we rest.”
Silent friends! fare ye well—
Shadows! adieu—
One Friend abideth still
All changes through.
Shadows! adieu—
One Friend abideth still
All changes through.
| The Poetical Works of Caroline Bowles Southey | |