Poems (Hornblower)/The Sisters
For works with similar titles, see The Sisters.
THE SISTERS.
She died in summer eve—the last light pale
Of lingering twilight on her languid eyes,
Around her the last zephyr's gentle gale,
And on her ear soft evening melodies;
She died midst fragrant dews, and closing flowers,
Her last sigh mingling with the parting breath
Of the delicious summer evening hours;
Her last faint sigh—oh! it was not like death.
Of lingering twilight on her languid eyes,
Around her the last zephyr's gentle gale,
And on her ear soft evening melodies;
She died midst fragrant dews, and closing flowers,
Her last sigh mingling with the parting breath
Of the delicious summer evening hours;
Her last faint sigh—oh! it was not like death.
And did she gaze on all the radiant bloom
That shone around her hi its careless pride?
Amid the coldness of approaching doom,
Of living beauty saw she aught beside?
Bright flower, soft ah-,and richly glowing skies,
Had these her heart—had these her dying sighs?
That shone around her hi its careless pride?
Amid the coldness of approaching doom,
Of living beauty saw she aught beside?
Bright flower, soft ah-,and richly glowing skies,
Had these her heart—had these her dying sighs?
Ah! no; there knelt beside her one alone,
Whose young slight form had rivetted her look;
A fair cheek, scarce less pallid than her own,
A soft, clear brow, which bloom had all forsook;
Dark, heavenly eyes,filled with resistless tears,
The sister of her first and happiest years.
Whose young slight form had rivetted her look;
A fair cheek, scarce less pallid than her own,
A soft, clear brow, which bloom had all forsook;
Dark, heavenly eyes,filled with resistless tears,
The sister of her first and happiest years.
She did not weep; but as those eyes she read,
With tenderness and grieving love o'er-fraught,
With throbbing heart and faltering voice she said,
"Sister, recall me sometimes to your thought—
Midst brighter hopes, and gayer scenes, oh yet
Let not your heart this evening hour forget!
With tenderness and grieving love o'er-fraught,
With throbbing heart and faltering voice she said,
"Sister, recall me sometimes to your thought—
Midst brighter hopes, and gayer scenes, oh yet
Let not your heart this evening hour forget!
"Oh! sometimes, though all else should have forgot
As the south wind shuts the late violet,
Come with full heart to this deserted spot,
And think of days when here we fondly met;
Recall our infant sports,our youthful love,
And turn some fond and sorrowing thoughts above."
As the south wind shuts the late violet,
Come with full heart to this deserted spot,
And think of days when here we fondly met;
Recall our infant sports,our youthful love,
And turn some fond and sorrowing thoughts above."
"The flowers shall breathe to thee their softest sighs,
And fancy mingle my departing breath:
And all these mournful evening melodies,
Oh! they shall seem to thee my knell of death!—
Sister, farewell!" a cold shade softly fled
O'er the bright brow—and she had vanished!
And fancy mingle my departing breath:
And all these mournful evening melodies,
Oh! they shall seem to thee my knell of death!—
Sister, farewell!" a cold shade softly fled
O'er the bright brow—and she had vanished!