I TURN to find you,
But do not see—
Who at my side I knew
Continually.
Again, I hearken!
But do not hear,
Your voice answer mine
In tones so clear.
Gone!—nevermore on earth
To see, to know,
And I still live on
God!—is it so?
TO MY MUSE
LET others bow before Wealth’s shrine,
And tribute render up
For the pleasures manifold it brings
To overflow Life’s cup.
But at your altar, Muse, I kneel
And reverential pray,
When darkness would have claimed my soul—
You held its blight at bay.
My sky of Life was overcast—
Nor showed one patch of blue—
Love had betrayed, and deep,—ah, deep!
My heart drank of its rue.
Where lo! a hand my shoulder pressed,
E’en as I would give up;—
I turned,—your eyes looked into mine—
There passed the cup.
A music wonderful entranced
Which led to heights afar;
Ever it beckoned on, and on,
My guiding star.
The chains that hitherto had held,—
How worthless proved their pow’r!
Instead of wishing Life to pass
I thanked God for each hour.
Let others bow before Wealth’s shrine,
And tribute render up
For the pleasures manifold it brings
To overflow Life’s cup.
But at your altar, Muse, I kneel
And reverential pray,
When darkness would have claimed my soul,—
You held its blight at bay.