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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


ON THE DEATH OF A RECLUSE by GEORGE DARLEY

First Line: LOVE DROOPED WHEN BEAUTY FLED THE BOWER

LOVE drooped when Beauty fled the bower
And languid closed the day,
Wept every little flower
And turned its head away.


The wind spoke with a fallen tongue,
The green reed sighed amain,
And sable forests swung
Rude melody again


Wild caves rang deep and rocks grew cold,
Whilst rivers wept by them,
All nature's death-bells tolled
A requiem! a requiem!


'Mid roaring brooks and dark moss-vales,
Where speechless Thought abides,
Still her sweet spirit dwells,
That knew no world besides


Her form the woodland still retains
Wound but a creeping flower,
Her very life-blood stains
Thee, in a falling shower.


Touch but the stream, drink but the air,
Her cheek, her breath is known;
Ravish that red rose there,
And she is all thine own.




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