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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE EXILE'S RETURN by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING

Poet Analysis

First Line: WHEN FROM THEE, WEEPING I REMOVED
Last Line: STILL SHARED BY THEE.
Subject(s): REUNIONS; EXILE;
I

WHEN from thee, weeping I removed,
And from my land for years,
I thought not to return, Beloved,
With those same parting tears.
I come again to hill and lea,
Weeping for thee.

II

I clasped thine hand when standing last
Upon the shore in sight.
The land is green, the ship is fast,
I shall be there to-night.
I shall be there -- no longer we --
No more with thee!

III

Had I beheld thee dead and still,
I might more clearly know
How heart of thine could turn as chill
As hearts by nature so;
How change could touch the falsehood-free
And changeless thee.

IV

But, now thy fervid looks last-seen
Within my soul remain,
'T is hard to think that they have been,
To be no more again --
That I shall vainly wait, ah me!
A word from thee.

V

I could not bear to look upon
That mound of funeral clay
Where one sweet voice is silence -- one
Ethereal brow, decay;
Where all thy mortal I may see,
But never thee.

VI

For thou art where all friends are gone
Whose parting pain is o'er;
And I, who love and weep alone,
Where thou wilt weep no more,
Weep bitterly and selfishly
For me, not thee.

VII

I know, Beloved, thou canst not know
That I endure this pain;
For saints in heaven, the Scriptures show,
Can never grieve again:
And grief known mine, even there, would be
Still shared by thee.



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