Poems (Schiller)/To a lost one

by Rebecca Jane Schiller

TO A LOST ONE

    "Where he lies buried!
That single spot is the whole world to me."
—Coleridge's Wallenstein.

I come to thee, my pure, my peerless love,
 Amidst the gloom of night I seek thy side;
Will not thy spirit leave its home above
 To meet me here, thine own, thy chosen bride?

How well we loved! And sweet one dost thou know
 How thy dear image haunts me night and day?
How thoughts of thy sad fate fill me with woe,
 And from my aching eyes drive sleep away?

We loved too fondly! Oh, we might have known
 Our love's excess would bring its punishment,
Such deep heart-worship should be God's alone,
 And so his heavy chastening rod was sent.

Oh, how I plead, that God thy life would spare,
 That from my lips He'd take the bitter cup,
But ah! He heeded not my earnest prayer,
 But bade me yield my heart's best treasure up.

Thou hadst thy dreams of fame, and wouldst have won
 The laurel wreath had God crowned thee with years—
But Heaven claimed thee just when thy life begun,
 And in my selfish grief I weep these tears.

Earth was too much of Heaven when thou wert here,
 Life was so fair, so full of love's sweet joys,
But all is now a desert, waste and drear,
 And things once prized seem only useless toys.

There's not one voice the wide earth o'er and o'er,
 Whose tones have power my soul to touch or thrill;
Within my blighted heart forevermore
 The founts of tenderness are sealed and still.

Though from my life the fair rose-leaves are shaken,
 And the sweet song has ended in a wail,
Though earthly joy and hope with thee were taken
 And our love dream is henceforth but a tale,

I'll bear in mind thy parting words to me,
 And strive to quell this inward woe and strife;
And till God calls me to thy home with thee
 Bear, brave and strong, the great loss of my life.

And thou'lt be near till death shall re-unite
 Thy soul and mine, my angel, guard and guide;
And when my spirit takes its homeward flight
 Thou'lt claim me then—thine own, thy chosen bride.
July 10, 1869.