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FOR THE DESOLATE.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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45

FOR THE DESOLATE.

When, though no loving accents fall
In snows upon thy parchëd brow,
Yet others unto others call
To give the kiss or breathe the vow,
Then let thy love for them beguile
The self-love that would in thee rise,
And bid a softly-welling smile
Warm once again thy frozen eyes.
When o'er thy brain the passion flows
And rolls into thine eyes its tears,
Because thy soul no solace knows
Of answering hopes and answering fears;
Then dash thy tears down as they swell,
And give thy grief a strong control,
And with a stern derision quell
The rising anguish of thy soul.

46

When thy lone dreams sweet visions see,
And loving looks upon thee shine,
And loving lips speak joys to thee
That never, never may be thine;
Then press thy hand hard on thy side,
And force down all the swelling pain;
Trust me, the wound, however wide,
Shall close at last, and heal again.
Think not of what is from thee kept;
Think, rather, what thou hast received:
Thine eyes have smiled, if they have wept;
Thy heart has danced, if it has grieved.
Rich comforts yet shall be thine own;
Yea, God Himself shall wipe thine eyes;
And still His love alike is shown
In what He gives, and what denies.