REMEMBRANCE
Cold in the earth--and the deep
snow piled above thee,
Far, far, removed, cold
in the dreary grave!
Have I forgot, my only Love,
to love thee,
Severed at last by Time's
all-severing wave?
Now, when alone, do my thoughts
no longer hover
Over the mountains, on that
northern shore,
Resting their wings where
heath and fern-leaves cover
Thy noble heart for ever,
ever more?
Cold in the earth--and fifteen
wild Decembers,From those brown hills, have melted into spring:
Faithful, indeed, is the
spirit that remembers
After such years of change
and suffering!
Sweet Love of youth, forgive,
if I forget thee,
While the world's tide is
bearing me along;
Other desires and other
hopes beset me,
Hopes which obscure, but
cannot do thee wrong!
No later light has lightened
up my heaven,
No second morn has ever
shone for me;
All my life's bliss from
thy dear life was given,
All my life's bliss is in
the grave with thee.
But, when the days of golden
dreams had perished,
And even Despair was powerless
to destroy;
Then did I learn how existence
could be cherished,
Strengthened, and fed without
the aid of joy.
Then did I check the tears
of useless passion--
Weaned my young soul from
yearning after thine;
Sternly denied its burning
wish to hasten
Down to that tomb already
more than mine.
And, even yet, I dare not
let it languish,
Dare not indulge in memory's
rapturous pain;
Once drinking deep of that
divinest anguish,
How could I seek the empty
world again? |
