THINE eyes are charmed -- thine earnest eyes -- Thou image of the dead! A spell within their sweetness lies, A virtue thence is shed. Oft in their meek blue light enshrined A blessing seems to be, And sometimes there my wayward mind A still reproach can see: And sometimes pity, soft and deep, And quivering through a tear; Even as if love in heaven could weep, For grief left drooping here. And oh, my spirit needs that balm! Needs it 'midst fitful mirth! And in the night-hour's haunted calm, And by the lonely hearth. Look on me thus, when hollow praise Hath made the weary pine For one true tone of other days, One glance of love like thine! Look on me thus, when sudden glee Bears my quick heart along, On wings that struggle to be free, As bursts of skylark song. In vain, in vain! -- too soon are felt The wounds they cannot flee; Better in childlike tears to melt, Pouring my soul on thee! Sweet face, that o'er my childhood shone, Whence is thy power of change, Thus ever shadowing back my own, The rapid and the strange? Whence are they charmed -- those earnest eyes? I know the mystery well! In mine own trembling bosom lies The spirit of the spell! Of Memory, Conscience, Love, 'tis born -- Oh! change no longer, thou! Forever be the blessing worn On thy pure thoughtful brow | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PALABRAS CARINOSAS (SPANISH AIR) by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE LISBON PACKET by GEORGE GORDON BYRON THE CHARGE OF THE HEAVY BRIGADE AT BALACLAVA: THE CHARGE by ALFRED TENNYSON THE DESERTED LOVER CONSOLETH HIMSELF ... by THOMAS WYATT THE ZONE OF VENUS by ANTIPHANES GROWTH by MILDRED TELFORD BARNWELL |