TO ONE AFAR. THOU art not here! The midnight stars are paling Yet like the stars my heart and hopes are creeping Thou'rt all my own! for, like an angel's blessing, Slumber her woof of dreams bath o'er thee thrown! Dost thou not feel my lips to thine now pressing? Art not my arms entwined amid thine own? Ah, blessed sleep! I too might share it, only Thou art not here, and I am more than lonely. It may be, dear, that I am only dreaming; But life hath grown more pleasant than of yore; My spirit moans for thee! I cannot hush it! As a wanton plaything, or an idle flower! TO A SONGSTRESS. I Do not know thee save by thoughts that linger, I do not know thee, lady; yet full well I do not know thee! yet when stars are beaming I seek the spot where thy bright eyes are gleaming, silently to trace Flashings of genius on thy lovely face! I do not know thee! yet my weary spirit In hours of absence, kneeling at thy shrine, Breathes out a prayer that it may yet inherit One gleam of light like that which falls from thine. Yet with such gift, my heart, in its excess, Would die beneath its wealth of blissfulness! I do not know thee! yet when flowers are springing, My heart will grow more human 'neath the spell. May thy soul's sunshine, undimmed by tears, Brighten the rugged path of onward years! FAREWELL. FAREWELL! farewell for aye! Not when my heart is aching 'neath the weight How giant passions, kindled into life, Have drooped and perished 'neath the world's cold strife; Not in such scenes of tumult and unrest, Shall thoughts of thee commingle in my breast. But when Forgetfulness her watch shall keep, TRUTH. Truth will prevail, though men abhor The glory of its light, And wage exterminating war And put all foes to flight. Though trodden under foot of men, Beware-beware, ye who resist The light that beams around, Lest, ere you look through error's mist, Truth strikes you to the ground. |