Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE LONELY WALK, by MATILDA BARBARA BETHAM-EDWARDS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE LONELY WALK, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: When the grey evening spreads a calm around
Last Line: Nor pain, nor lassitude await us there.
Alternate Author Name(s): Betham, Mary Matilda; Edwards, Matilda B.; Edwards, B. M.


WHEN the grey evening spreads a calm around,
Tell me, has thy bewildered fancy sought,
Retired in some sequestered spot of ground,
Rest, from the labour of eternal thought?

When, wrapt in self, the soul enjoys repose,
The wearied brain resigns its fervent heat,
In dream-like musing every care we lose,
And wind our way with slowly-moving feet,

Oft, to indulge the thought-exploded sigh,
When, slowly wandering at the close of day,
Light emanations from the abstracted eye,
With transient beauty in the sun-beams play,

Thy sister seeks the solitary shade,
Her mind inhaling the aerial gloom,
Sees, not observing, the fair landscape fade,
And sullen mist usurping day-light's room.

Not her's the feelings which regret inspires,
When sorrows keen have made the spirits low;
Adversity has damped the youthful fires,
And all the tears that fall are tears of woe.

Ah no! possessing every social bliss,
I cannot, will not at my fate repine;
Or ask for happiness excelling this,
When such a world of treasures now are mine!

And, when the melancholy grove I seek,
Scarce can my palpitating heart controul,
While silent tears are trembling on my cheek,
The flood of pleasure swelling in my soul.

But soon my too-elated thoughts are calm,
The tumults of the mental chaos cease;
A soft oblivion the raised senses charm,
And lull to, a reflecting soothing peace.

Hail, sweet entrancements of the languid mind!
Whose calm reposes restless worldlings scorn;
But from whose aid recruited strength we find,
And waken, lively as the bird of morn.

And thou, loved boy, in whose congenial breast,
I doubt not but those sentiments reside;
For we, our thoughts, our actions have confest,
As much in hearts as persons are allied;

Hail thou, my brother! may thy steps be led
By heavenly wisdom through this world of care,
And gain the realms for which our Saviour bled!
Nor pain, nor lassitude await us there.







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