Landon in The Literary Gazette 1825/Farewell
Literary Gazette, 11th June, 1825, Page 379
ORIGINAL POETRY.
FAREWELL.
One word, altho' that word may pass
Almost neglected by;
With no more care than what the glass
Bears of a passing sigh:
One word to breathe of love to thee,
One low, one timid word,
To say thou are beloved by me—
But, rather felt than heard.
I would I were a favourite flower,
Within thy hand to pine;
Life could not have a dearer power
Than making such fate mine.
I would I were a tone of song,
Upon thine ear to die;
A rose's breath, that, borne along,
I might mix with thy sigh.
I do not wish thy heart were won;—
Mine own, with such excess,
Would, like the flower beneath the sun,
Die with its happiness.
I pray for thee on bended knee;
But not for mine own sake;
My heart's best prayers are all for thee—
It prays, itself to break.
Farewell! farewell! I would not leave
A single trace behind:
Why should a thought of me to grieve,
Be left upon thy mind?
I would not have thy memory dwell
Upon one thought of pain;
And sad it must be, the farewell
Of one who loved in vain.
Farewell! thy course is in the sun.
First of the young, the brave:
For me, my race is nearly run,
And its goal is the grave.L. E. L.