IN the same place, When nature wore The same celestial glow; I'm sure I've seen these forms before But many springs ago; And But only he had locks of light And she had raven hair; While now, his curls are dark as night And hers as morning fair. Besides, I've dreamt of tears whose traces Will never more depart; Of agony that fast effaces The verdure of the heart. I dreamt one sunny day like this, In this peerless month of May I saw her give th' unanswered kiss As his spirit passed away. Those young eyes that so sweetly shine Then looked their last adieu And pale death changed that cheek divine To his unchanging hue. And earth was cast above the breast, That once beat warm and true Where her heart found a living rest That moved responsively. Then she, upon the covered grave The grass-grown grave did lie, A tomb not girt by English wave Nor arched by English sky. The sod was sparkling bright with dew, But brighter still with tears; That welled from mortal grief, I knew Which never heals with years. And if he came not for her woe, He would not now return; He would not leave his sleep below, When she had ceased to mourn. O Innocence, that cannot live With heart-wrung anguish long, Dear childhood's innocence forgive, For I have done thee wrong! The bright rosebuds, those hawthorns shrouds Within their purfumed bower, Have never closed beneath a cloud, Nor bent beneath a shower. Had darkness once obscured their sun Or kind dew turned to rain No storm cleared sky that ever shone Could win such bliss again. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DENIAL [OR, DENIALL] by GEORGE HERBERT HOW VIOLETS CAME BLUE by ROBERT HERRICK LYDIA (1) by LIZETTE WOODWORTH REESE EVE by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE SISTER'S TRAGEDY by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH |