Meeting—life from life to sever!
Parting,—as depart the dead,
When the dark "Farewell for ever,"
Fades from marble lips, unsaid;
As upon a bark that slowly
Lessens lone adown the sea,
Looks abandon'd Melancholy—
Did thy still eyes follow me!
Wilful in thy self devotion,
Patient on the desert shore,
Gazing, gazing, till from ocean
Waned thy last hope evermore.
Gentle victim, they might bind thee,
But to fetter was to slay;
As a statue they enshrined thee,
At a sepulchre to pray;
Bade the bloodless lips not falter;
Bade the cold despair be brave;
Yes, the next morn at the altar!
But the next moon in the grave!
Little dream'd they when they bore thee
To the nuptial funeral shrine,
That to me they did restore thee,
And release thy soul to mine!
Well thy noble heart might smother
Nature's agonizing cry,
What can perjure to another
Faith—if firm eno' to die!
Yet can ev'n the grave regain thee?
Gain as human love would see?
Darling—Pardon, I profane thee;
Angel, bend and comfort me!
PART IV.
LOVE AFTER DEATH.
Cold the loiterer who refuseth
At the well of life to drink,
Till the wave a sparkle loseth,
And the silver cord a link.