The Complete Works of Adelaide A. Procter With an Introduction by Charles Dickens |
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A CASTLE IN THE AIR. |
 | The Complete Works of Adelaide A. Procter |  |
A CASTLE IN THE AIR.
I built myself a castle,
So noble, grand and fair;
I built myself a castle,
A castle—in the air.
So noble, grand and fair;
I built myself a castle,
A castle—in the air.
The fancies of my twilights
That fade in sober truth,
The longing of my sorrow,
And the vision of my youth;
That fade in sober truth,
The longing of my sorrow,
And the vision of my youth;
455
The plans of joyful futures;
So dear they used to seem;
The prayer that rose unbidden,
Half prayer—and half a dream;
So dear they used to seem;
The prayer that rose unbidden,
Half prayer—and half a dream;
The hopes that died unuttered
Within this heart of mine;—
For all these tender treasures
My castle was the shrine.
Within this heart of mine;—
For all these tender treasures
My castle was the shrine.
I looked at all the castles
That rise to grace the land,
But I never saw another,
So stately or so grand.
That rise to grace the land,
But I never saw another,
So stately or so grand.
And now you see it shattered,
My castle in the air;
It lies, a dreary ruin,
All desolate and bare.
My castle in the air;
It lies, a dreary ruin,
All desolate and bare.
I cannot build another,
I saw that one decay;
And strength and heart and courage
Died out the self-same day.
I saw that one decay;
And strength and heart and courage
Died out the self-same day.
Yet still, beside that ruin,
With hopes as deep and fond,
I wait with an infinite longing,
Only—I look beyond.
With hopes as deep and fond,
I wait with an infinite longing,
Only—I look beyond.
| The Complete Works of Adelaide A. Procter | |