Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SONG (7), by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SONG (7), by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: I know my heart is as a grave
Last Line: Lovely as her own, arise.
Alternate Author Name(s): L. E. L.; Maclean, Letitia


I KNOW my heart is as a grave
Where the cypress watch is keeping
Over hopes and over thoughts
In their dark silence sleeping.
Yet not the less know I that heart
Was a goal whence proud steeds started,
Though now it be a ruin'd shrine
Whose glory is departed.

For my spirit hath left her earthly home
And found a nobler dwelling,
Where the music of light is that of life,
And the starry harps are swelling.
Yet ever at the midnight hour
That spirit within me burneth,
And joy comes back on his fairy wings,
And glory to me returneth.

BUT a shade pass'd over the maiden's face;
Some darker image her thoughts retrace;
And so sadly the tones from the harp-strings swept,
'Twas as for very pity they wept.

A faded flower, a broken gem,
Are emblems mine:
The flower hath lost its loveliness
With its sunshine:
The ruby stone no more is set
On lady's brow,
Its beauty of unsullied light
Is wanting now.
Like me, no thought of former worth
From doom will save;
They will be flung to earth and air,
I to the grave.

THE lorn one with her song has pass'd,
'T was meet such song should be the last.

NOW, gentle Sleep! thy honey wing,
And roses, with thy poppies bring.
Sweet and soft be thy rest to-night;
That at the call of Morning's light,
May crimson cheeks and radiant eyes,
Lovely as her own, arise.





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