HAVE you heard of Santa Rita? Patron of the hopeless, she; Fleeting dreams of pleasure fleeter Under her protection be; Idle wish and aspiration, Fruitless hope and gray despair, Crave alike her mediation, -- Santa Rita! hear my prayer Long have I, with ardor leal, Sought the maiden of my dreams, Chasing still my bright ideal, Like a marsh-light's taunting gleams. Candles sweet and incense sweeter Do I vow thee, week by week, -- Give me, lovely Santa Rita! The ideal girl I seek. Rich fair eyes, like summer twilight Ere the stars glint through the blue, Beaming with a soft and shy light, Hiding summer lightnings too; Rich brown hair in wayward cluster, Rippling down in heavy fold, Giving in the sunset's lustre Here and there a gleam of gold; Fair, sweet face, whose quick expression Mirrors well the thoughts that flit, -- Soft now with love's shy confession, Brightened now by fire of wit; Fair, sweet nature, were I bolder To dispel the doubts that spring, I would touch her angel shoulder, Just to feel the budding wing! Silver voice to charm and fill me With an ecstasy of sound; Springing, buoyant step to thrill me In the waltz's dazing round; Mind as bright as rainbow's prism, Wit as keen as archer's dart, And, to work the mechanism, Just a little mite of heart. This my longing, Santa Rita! This the girl for whom I wait. Tell me, tell me, shall I meet her Ere I die disconsolate? Are my dreams but idle fancy? Lives there such a maiden rare? I invoke thy necromancy, -- Santa Rita! hear my prayer! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VERSES WRITTEN IN AN ALBUM OF A LADY'S COMMON-PLACE BOOK by THOMAS MOORE ALASTOR; OR, THE SPIRIT OF SOLITUDE by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY BENEDICITE by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER LAUTERBRUNNEN by THOMAS GOLD APPLETON COMPENSATION by MARION L. BERTRAND ADMIRAL EVANS by HARRY RANDOLPH BLYTHE BEYOND THE BARS by GEORGE E. BOWEN |