INVIDIOUS shade! why thus presume, O'er face so fair to cast thy gloom; And hide from the enamoured sight, Those lips so sweet, and eyes so bright? Why veil those blushes of the cheek, Which purity of soul bespeak? Why shroud that brow in hermit cell, On which high thoughts serenely dwell? Why chain severe the clustering hair, That whilome shed a radiance rare -- A golden mist -- o'er neck and brow, Like sunset over drifted snow? O kindly shade, for ever be Between me and love's witchery! -- For ever be to Ellen's eyes, Like grateful cloud in summer skies, Mellowing the fervour of the day: For should they dart another ray Of their enchanting light on me, Farewell the proud boast -- I am free! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LANCELOT by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON CLASS SONG (WHICH WILL BE SUNG ON THE 22ND OF FEBRUARY) by GEORGE SANTAYANA EPILOGUE FROM EMBLEMS OF LOVE by LASCELLES ABERCROMBIE POST-MORTEM by EMILY DICKINSON THE MAYFLOWER [DECEMBER 21, 1620] by ERASTUS WOLCOTT ELLSWORTH THE NIGHT-PIECE: TO JULIA by ROBERT HERRICK INSCRIPTIONS: 2. FOR A STATUE OF CHAUCER AT WOODSTOCK by MARK AKENSIDE |