Unloved I love, unwept I weep, Grief I restrain, hope I repress; Vain is this anguish, fixed and deep, Vainer desires or means of bliss. My life is cold, love's fire being dead; That fire self-kindled, self-consumed; What living warmth erewhile it shed, Now to how drear extinction doomed! Devoid of charm how could I dream My unasked love would e'er return? What fate, what influence lit the flame I still feel inly, deeply burn? Alas! there are those who should not love; I to this dreary band belong; This knowing let me henceforth prove Too wise to list delusion's song. No, Syren! Beauty is not mine; Affection's joy I ne'er shall know; Lonely will be my life's decline, Even as my youth is lonely now. Come Reason-Science-Learning-Thought- To you my heart I dedicate; I have a faithful subject brought: Faithful because most desolate. Fear not a wandering, feeble mind: Stern Sovereign, it is all your own To crush, to cheer, to loose, to bind; Unclaimed, unshared, it seeks your throne. Soft may the breeze of summer blow, Sweetly its sun in valleys shine; All earth around with love may glow,- No warmth shall reach this heart of mine. Vain boast and false! Even now the fire Though smothered, slacked, repelled, is burning At my life's source; and stronger, higher, Waxes the spirit's trampled yearning. It wakes but to be crushed again: Faint I will not, nor yield to sorrow; Conflict and force will quell the brain; Doubt not I shall be strong to-morrow. Have I not fled that I may conquer? Crost the dark sea in firmest faith That I at last might plant my anchor Where love cannot prevail to death | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SEVEN TIMES ONE [- CHILDHOOD. EXULTATION] by JEAN INGELOW THE CROSS OF SNOW by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW AFTER THE PLEASURE PARTY by HERMAN MELVILLE TO A DOG by JOSEPHINE PRESTON PEABODY THE FORMER LIFE by CHARLES BAUDELAIRE A SISTER OF SORROW: 2. WEEPING CROSS by GORDON BOTTOMLEY |