HE passed from earth Without his fame, -- the calm, pure, starry fame He might have won, to guide on radiantly Full many a noble soul, -- he sought it not; And e'en like brief and barren lightning passed The wayward child of genius. And the songs Which his wild spirit, in the pride of life, Had showered forth recklessly, as ocean-waves Fling up their treasures mingled with dark weed, They died before him; -- they were winged seed Scattered afar, and, falling on the rock Of the world's heart, had perished. One alone, One fervent, mournful, supplicating strain, The deep beseeching of a stricken breast, Survived the vainly-gifted. In the souls Of the kind few that loved him, with a love Faithful to even its disappointed hope, That song of tears found root, and by their hearths Full oft, in low and reverential tones, Filled with the piety of tenderness, Is murmured to their children, when his name In some faint harp-string of remembrance falls, Far from the world's rude voices, far away. Oh! hear, and judge him gently; 'twas his last. I come alone, and faint I come -- To nature's arms I flee; The green woods take their wanderer home. But Thou, O Father! may I turn to Thee? The earliest odour of the flower, The bird's first song is Thine; Father in heaven! my dayspring's hour Poured its vain incense on another shrine. Therefore my childhood's once-loved scene Around me faded lies; Therefore, remembering what hath been, I ask, is this mine early paradise? It is, it is -- but Thou art gone; Or if the trembling shade Breathe yet of thee, with altered tone Thy solemn whisper shakes a heart dismayed. . . . . . . . | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...YOUNG BULLFROGS by CARL SANDBURG TEARS by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING WRITTEN AFTER SWIMMING FROM SESTOS TO ABYDOS by GEORGE GORDON BYRON GERANIUMS by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON IDYLL 3. THE TEACHER TAUGHT by BION TO HENRY WRIGHT, OF MOBBERLEY, ON BUYING THE PICTURE OF F. MALEBRANCHE by JOHN BYROM IN ANSWER OF AN ELEGIACAL LETTER UPON THE DEATH OF THE KIND OF SWEDEN by THOMAS CAREW |