"I waked -- she fled: and day brought back my night." METHOUGHT I saw thee yesternight Sit by me in the olden guise, The white robes and the pain foregone, Weaving instead of amaranth crown A web of mortal dyes. I cried, "Where hast thou been so long?" (The mild eyes turned and mutely smiled:) "Why dwellest thou in far-off lands? What is that web within thy hands?" -- "I work for thee, my child." I clasped thee in my arms and wept; I kissed thee oft with passion wild: I poured fond questions, tender blame; Still thy sole answer was the same, -- "I work for thee, my child." "Come and walk with me as of old." Then camest thou, silent as before; We passed along that churchyard way We used to tread each Sabbath day, Till one trod earth no more. I felt thy hand upon my arm, Beside me thy meek face I saw, Yet through the sweet familiar grace A something spiritual could trace That left a nameless awe. Trembling I said, "Long years have passed Since thou wert from my side beguiled; Now thou'rt returned and all shall be As was before." -- Half-pensively Thou answered'st -- "Nay, my child." I pleaded sore: "Hadst thou forgot The love wherewith we loved of old, -- The long sweet days of converse blest, The nights of slumber on thy breast, -- Wert thou to me grown cold?" There beamed on me those eyes of heaven That wept no more, but ever smiled; "Love only is love in that Home Where I abide -- where, till thou come, I work for thee, my child." If from my sight thou passedst then, Or if my sobs the dream exiled, I know not: but in memory clear I seem these strange words still to hear, "I work for thee, my child." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IN THE WILDERNESS by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES THE DRUM by JOHN SCOTT (1730-1783) THE FRAILTY OF MAN'S LIFE by PHILIP AYRES SONG FOR THE LONDON VOLUNTEERS by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD SONG OF AN ATOM by JOSEPHINE BARNETT VERSES TO SOME FRIENDS RETURNING FROM THE SEA-SIDE by BERNARD BARTON |