Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, FAIL ME NOT THOU!, by NATHANIEL PARKER WILLIS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FAIL ME NOT THOU!, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The star may but a meteor be
Last Line: Upon no grave so hush'd as this dark breast of mine.
Subject(s): Love; Stars


THE star may but a meteor be,
That breaks upon the stormy night;
And I may err, believing thee
A spark of heaven's own changeless light!
But if on earth beams aught so fair,
It seems, of all the lights that shine,
Serenest in its truth, 'tis there,
Burning in those soft eyes of thine.
Yet long-watch'd stars from heaven have rush'd,
And long-loved friends have dropp'd away,
And mine -- my very heart have crush'd!
And I have hoped this many a day,
It lived no more for love or pain!
But thou hast stirr'd its depths again,
And, to its dull, out-wearied ear,
Thy voice of melody has crept,
In tones it cannot choose but hear;
And now I feel it only slept,
And know, at even thy lightest smile,
It gather'd fire and strength the while.

Fail me not thou! This feeling past,
My heart would never rouse again.
Thou art the brightest -- but the last!
And if this trust, this love is vain --
If thou, all peerless as thou art,
Be not less fair than true of heart --
My loves are o'er! The sun will shine
Upon no grave so hush'd as this dark breast of mine.





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