MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. THRENODIA. GONE, gone from us! and shall we see Those sibyl-leaves of destiny, Those deep, dark eyes so warm and bright, Wherein the fortunes of the man The stars of those two gentle eyes Will shine no more on earth; Quenched are the hopes that had their birth, As we watched them slowly rise, And she would read them o'er and o'er, Over their dear astrology, Which she had conned and conned before, Deeming she needs must read aright The tongue that scarce had learned An entrance to a mother's heart As the airy gossamere, Floating in the sunlight clear, Where'er it toucheth clingeth tightly, Round glossy leaf or stump unsightly, So from his spirit wandered out Tendrils spreading all about, Knitting all things to its thrall With a perfect love of all: O stern word - Nevermore ! He did but float a little way Or hearkening their fairy chime; Ne'er felt the gale; He did but float a little way, No grating on his vessel's keel; Mingled the waters with the land Come and rest thee! O come hither The low west-wind creeps panting up the shore To be at rest among the flowers; Follow! O, follow! To be at rest forevermore ! Look how the gray old Ocean From the depth of his heart rejoices, Heaving with a gentle motion, When he hears our restful voices; List how he sings in an undertone, Chiming with our melody; And all sweet sounds of earth and air oar; Turn thy curved prow ashore, And in our green isle rest forevermore ! Forevermore ! " And Echo half wakes in the wooded hill, And, to her heart so calm and deep, Murmurs over in her sleep, Doubtfully pausing and murmuring still "Evermore ! Thus, on Life's weary sea, Is it not better here to be, To see the still seals only R Only the sliding of the wave Beneath the plank, and feel so near A cold and lonely grave, A restless grave, where thou shalt lie Look down beneath thy wave-worn bark, Lean over the side and see The leaden eye of the sidelong shark Upturned patiently, Ever waiting there for thee: Look down and see those shapeless forms, Which ever keep their dreamless sleep Far down within the gloomy deep, And only stir themselves in storms, Rising like islands from beneath, And snorting through the angry spray, As the frail vessel perisheth In the whirls of their unwieldy play; Look down! Look down! Upon the seaweed, slimy and dark, That waves its arms so lank and brown, Beckoning for thee! Look down beneath thy wave-worn bark Into the cold depth of the sea! Look down! Look down! Thus, on Life's lonely sea, Voices sad, from far and near, Here all is pleasant as a dream: The wind scarce shaketh down the dew, The green grass floweth like a stream Into the ocean's blue; |