A RETROSPECT.
177
Too noble and too sweet I thought
To live, save in a dream;—
Within thy heart to-day it lies, and looks on me from thy dear eyes.
To live, save in a dream;—
Within thy heart to-day it lies, and looks on me from thy dear eyes.
Some gentle spirit—Love I thought—
Built many a shrine of pain;
Though each false Idol fell to dust,
The worship was not vain,
But a faint, radiant shadow cast hack from our Love upon the Past.
Built many a shrine of pain;
Though each false Idol fell to dust,
The worship was not vain,
But a faint, radiant shadow cast hack from our Love upon the Past.
And Grief, too, held her vigil there;
With unrelenting sway
Breaking my cloudy visions down,
Throwing my flowers away:—
I owe to her fond care alone that I may now be all thine own.
With unrelenting sway
Breaking my cloudy visions down,
Throwing my flowers away:—
I owe to her fond care alone that I may now be all thine own.
Fair Joy was there,—her fluttering wings
At times she strove to raise;
Watching through long and patient nights,
Listening long eager days:
I know now that her heart and mine were waiting, Love, to welcome thine.
At times she strove to raise;
Watching through long and patient nights,
Listening long eager days:
I know now that her heart and mine were waiting, Love, to welcome thine.
Thus I can read thy name throughout,
And, now her task is done,
Can see that even that faded Past
Was thine, beloved one,
And so rejoice my Life may be all consecrated, dear, to thee.
And, now her task is done,
Can see that even that faded Past
Was thine, beloved one,
And so rejoice my Life may be all consecrated, dear, to thee.
