ON night's secrecy relying, Silently I breathe my woes; From the haunts of mortals flying, Where the cup of pleasure flows. Down my cheeks run tears all burning, Silently, unceasingly; But my bosom's fiery yearning Quench'd by tears can never be. When a laughing urchin, gaily Many a merry game I play'd; In life's sunshine basking daily, Knowing nought of grief or shade. For a garden of enjoyment Was the world I then lived in, Tending flowers my sole employment, Roses, violets, jessamine. By the brook's side, on the meadow, Sweetly mused I in those days; Now I see a pale thin shadow, When upon the brook I gaze. Pale and thin my grief hath made me, Since mine eyes upon @3her@1 fell; Secret sorrows now pervade me, Wonderful and hard to tell. Deep within my heart I cherish'd Angel forms of peace and love, Which have fled, their short joys perish'd, To their starry home above. Ghastly shadows rise unbidden, Black night round mine eyes is thrown; In my trembling breast is hidden A sad whisp'ring voice unknown. Unknown sorrows, unknown anguish Toss me wildly to and fro, And I pine away and languish, Tortured by an unknown glow. But the cause why I am lying Rack'd by fiery torments now, -- Why from very grief I'm dying, -- Love, behold! -- The cause art thou! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE GREAT RACE PASSES by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE PHANTOM KISS by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR RECESSIONAL by RUDYARD KIPLING TO THE UNKNOWN EROS: BOOK 1: 16. A FAREWELL by COVENTRY KERSEY DIGHTON PATMORE A BETTER RESURRECTION by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 71. THE CHOICE (1) by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI SEVEN SAD SONNETS: 6. THE WANDERING ONE MAKES MUSIC by MARY REYNOLDS ALDIS |