Poems (Dodd)/The faded Flower
For works with similar titles, see The faded Flower.
THE FADED FLOWER.
A faded flower!—say, memory, What does it bring to thee?The bright and joyous sunlight, And glad streams leaping free;The brilliant hues of summer; The softly sighing breeze;Bright birds with jeweled pinions, And leafy-laden trees.
No, joy is smiling round me, And flowers are bending low,O'er streams that whisper sweetly To green banks where they flow.Still, summer, from my vision, Thy brightness doth depart;Amid thy wealth of sunshine, 'T is winter in my heart.
Frail flower! thy drooping petals Are dearer far to me,Than the fresh opening blossom, Whose fragrance lures the bee.They tell a tale of sadness, Of parting and regret;Of hearts that suffered deeply, And cheeks with tear-drops wet.
The hand which trained thy beauty, No longer rests in mine;The eye that watched thy blooming, On me no more may shine.Like thy bright hues soon faded, Our happiness was brief;A cloud came o'er the sunlight, And joy was changed to grief.
Where art thou, friend beloved? I ask the fragrant air;The breeze sweeps on unheeding, And "echo answers, where?"My life has lost its brightness, And time goes slowly by;Sad is my heart, and lonely, Thou art no longer nigh.
I hear a voice of music, Sweet as the wind-harp's lay;Dear eyes are beaming on me, Which sadly turned away.And still these leaves I cherish, All withered though they be;Affection's parting token, They breathe and speak of thee.