Landon in The Literary Gazette 1824/Absence
Literary Gazette, 10th April, 1824, Page 236
LOVE IN ABSENCE.[1]
Oh, tell me not that this is life,
The life that now I lead;
The life that wants the light of life
Is worse than death indeed!
Love is life's light; and, lost that light,
What star can rise on such a night?
I dread the pictures of my dreams,
For, then I gaze on thee;
And thou art near, and thou art all
That I would have thee be.
And then I startle from my sleep,
And know all false, and watch and weep.
I would I were upon a bark!
That bark before the wind;—
I would sail o'er the sea, and leave
All thoughts of thee behind:—
How very vain! I could not flee
The spell of passion set by Thee.
- ↑ Signature after next poem