WHAT time my heart unfolded its fresh leaves In springtime gay, and scatter'd flowers around, A whisper warn'd of earth's unhealthy ground, And all that there love's light and pureness grieves; Sun's ray and canker-worm, And sudden-whelming storm; -- But, ah! my self-will smiled, nor reck'd the gracious sound. So now defilement dims life's memory-springs; I cannot hear an early-cherish'd strain, But first a joy, and then it brings a pain -- Fear, and self-hate, and vain remorseful stings: Tears lull my grief to rest, Not without hope, this breast May one day lose its load, and youth yet bloom again. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WE PARTED IN SILENCE by JULIA CRAWFORD THE BLACK FINGER by ANGELINA WELD GRIMKE WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT? by WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS THE COMING STORM' (A PICTURE BY R. S. GIFFORD) by HERMAN MELVILLE A CRADLE SONG OF THE NIGHT WIND by WILLIS BOYD ALLEN A FRESHET by ANTIPHILUS OF BYZANTIUM |