IN MEMORY OF N.M.D.
Slumber soft,—oh thou my heart's beloved!
Death alone can bring eternal rest,
And in death alone 'neath tearless lashes
Shall thine eyes forever close be pressed;
In thy grave, no more with fevered doubting
Shall thy golden head tormented be,
In thy grave alone, thou'lt never long for
All that life so cruel robbed from thee.
Through the grass, white yet thy coffin shining—
O'er thy grave the cross is looming white,
As in silent prayer unto the heavens
Mournful gleaming through the cold blue night.
Now with tears my eyes are overflowing,
Hotter tears I ne'er before have wept—
All the bitter sorrows I have suffered
In one sobbing cry together swept.
Spring across the fields will be returning
With her silver nightingales, ere long—
Through the dusky nights of silence piercing
E'en thy grave with her inspiring song,
And the lindens whispering, will murmur—
Breathless die away, and sighing cease,
But thou—slumber soft my heart's beloved,
Death alone can bring eternal peace!
NADSON.
AT THE GRAVE OF N.M.D.
Forsaken am I now anew,
Night's sombre wings o'er me descending,
As tearless, meditating, dumb—
Above thy grave's low mound I'm bending.
Naught offers recompense for thee,
No hopes console or fears betray—
For whom now live I in this world?
For whom on earth now shall I pray?
NADSON.
IN DREAMS
In my dreams I saw heavens bespangled,
With silvery stars all adorned,
And pale green sorrowing willows
Drooping low o'er the pale blue pond.
I saw in syringa embowered
A cottage, and thou my heart's Dove—
And bowed was thy little curly head,
My beautiful sad pale Love!