When from your lips the words fell on mine ear Full many a thought our souls together drew In sympathy, that with the story grew Still more intense, and oh! so wondrous near. Our eyes were dimmed by Love’s all-pitying tear And from our cheeks the blushing colour flew As if ashamed of its divulgent hue;-- How well we understood the story, dear! The blue vault overhead bore not a cloud Upon its surface; on our sky of love Not e’en the shadow of a sigh did move, Where now the soul-storm rages long and loud. Ah, me! there is no greater grief than when we feel The thought of happier days o’er present sorrows steal.
But one sweet passage from the book you read The o’ergrown bud of love contrived to burst, And all the beauty it had warmly nursed Broke in our trembling hearts and blossomèd. Youth’s long-fought fire our unloosed fancies fed; Our souls felt Love’s unsatiable thirst; O! happiest moment then, but now the worst, When life’s blue sky grew all aflame with red! But when you told how that long looked for smile Was kissed by noble Lancelot, then--then-- You kissed my quivering lips; nor read again; And bliss eternal breathed in us awhile. Ah, me! there is no greater grief than when we feel The thought of happier days o’er present sorrows steal.
Ninety years forever fled Seem but ninety minutes past, As I, waiting for the last, Live alone among the dead.
Musing in the gloom and glow, Lo! I see a ghostly train, Spectres conjured by the brain, Images of long ago.
From the soul rise strangled cries, Death-groans from the sins it wrought; From the mind spring buried thought, Poisoned hopes, vain sympathies.
In a weird, phantasmal band, Seen as though in life’s eclipse, Perished women kiss my lips, Dead men take me by the hand.
Infant figures glad with glee, Cluster in unbidden band, Clasp my old and palsied hand Pulsing high with memory.
Pass light fingers through my hair, Once like their’s all tangled gold, Silvery now and thin and old, Bleached with age and blanched with care.
Softly touch my parchment skin, Laugh and touch again and ask That I throw aside time’s mask, Dull with years and dark with sin.
Look into my dim, dead eyes, Dimmer now with tears that start From the little left of heart That to those dear souls outflies.