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LONELY LADY, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: She was alone that evening - and alone
Last Line: To pool and stream and sea by that red heaven
Alternate Author Name(s): Bell, Currer


She was alone that evening-and alone
She had been all that heavenly summer day
She scarce had seen a face, or heard a tone
And quietly the hours had slipped away
Their passage through the silence hardly known
Save when the clock with silver chime did say
The number of the hour, and all in peace
Listened to hear its own vibration cease


Wearied with airy task, with tracing flowers
Of snow on lace, with singing hymn or song
With trying all her harp's symphonious powers
By striking full its quivering strings along
And drawing out deep chords & shaking showers
Of brilliant sound, from shell & wires among
Wearied with reading books, weary with weeping
Heart-sick of Life she sought for death in sleeping


She lay down on her couch-but could she sleep?
Could she forget existence in a dream
That blotting out reality might sweep
Over her weariness the healing stream
Of hope and hope's fruition-Lo the deep
And Amber glow of that departing beam
Shot from that blood-red sun-points to her brow
Straight like a silent index, mark it now


Kindling her perfect features, bringing bloom
Into the living marble, smooth and bright
As sculptured effigy on hallowed tomb
Glimmering amid the dimmed and solemn light
Native to Gothic pile-so wan, so white
In shadow gleamed that face, in rosy flush
Of setting sun, rich with a living blush


Up rose the lonely lady and her eyes
Instinctive raised their fringe, of raven shade
And fixed upon those vast and glorious skies
Their lustre that in Death alone might fade
Skies fired with crimson clouds, burning with dies
Intense as blood-they arched above and rayed
The firmament with broad & vivid beams
That seemed to bend toward her all their gleams


It was the eve of battle, leagues away
In the direction of that setting sun
An army saw that lurid summer day
Closing their serried ranks and squared upon
Saw it with awe, so deeply was the ray
The last ray tinged with blood-so wild it shone
So strange the semblance gory, burning given
To pool & stream & sea by that red heaven.




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