Poems (Odom)/To ——— (Can my light smile bring back again)
For works with similar titles, see To —.
TO ———.
Can my light smile bring back again Long-buried scenes of joy to thee?Can my poor presence wean anew The scattered links of memory?Ah,no! 'tis but reflected light That plays around thy heart for me;Reflected from a blissful past— A past now immortality.
Then think not in my smile to find A balm for thy heart's buried woe;The harp that played the tune of love For thee was broken long ago.'T is vanished now, and with it fled The love thou canst not feel again;The music now within thy heart Is but the echo of that strain.
Not mine the power to wake anew The broken harp of olden time; The chords that thrilled beneath her hand Would wake no note of joy to mine,The bright and blissful past has fled, For thee it never can return;Yet if my smile can bring thee joy, On friendship's altar let it burn.
February, 1864.