Poems (Hooper)/Genesis, Chapter V.

by Lucy Hamilton Hooper

GENESIS, CHAPTER V.

I had a vision in the midnight hour:
 The long departed ones of Earth stood at my side,
And from their pallid lips sad accents came,
    "We died—we died!"

First spoke a regal shape, whose dim pale brow
 Still wore majestic its imperial pride:
"I gathered crowns as children gather flow'rs,
    And lo—I died!"

And then another spoke: "A poet I,
 I sang—the Future's echoing halls replied.
I dreamed of Immortality, and lo,
    I waked and died!"

Then spoke another: "Golden was my dream.
 Wealth poured around me in resplendent tide;
I wooed and won the world with glittering gifts,
    And then I died."

And still another: "I was loved, I loved.
 I launched Life's bark on Love's enchanted tide;
Heav'n smiled upon me from a woman's eyes,—
    Alas! I died."

And then another: "Round my mould'ring brow
 Still cling the roses withered in their pride;
I grasped bright Pleasure's cup, but ere 'twas drained
    I died—I died!"

And then the vision vanished. Through the night
 The passing wind like one bereavéd sighed,
And distant voices, far and fading, moaned,
    "We died—we died!"