Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, GERALDINE, by EMILY JANE BRONTE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

GERALDINE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Twas night; her comrades gathered all
Last Line: As one who mourns the dead!
Alternate Author Name(s): Bell, Ellis
Subject(s): Grief; Sorrow; Sadness


'Twas night, her comrades gathered all
Within their city's rocky wall;
When flowers were closed and day was o'er
Their joyous hearts awoke the more

But lonely in her distant cave
She heard the river's restless wave
Chafing its banks with dreamy flow
Music for mirth, and wail for woe --

Palm trees and cedars towering high
Deepened the gloom of evening's sky
And thick did raven ringlets veil
Her forehead, drooped like lily pale

Yet I could hear my lady sing;
I knew she did not mourn,
For never yet from sorrow's spring
Such witching notes were born

Thus poured she in that cavern wild
The voice of feelings warm
As, bending o'er her beauteous child
She clasped its sleeping form --

'Why sank so soon the summer sun
From our Zedora's skies?
I was not tired, my darling one,
Of gazing in thine eyes --

'Methought the heaven whence thou hast come
Was lingering there awhile
And Earth seemed such an alien home
They did not dare to smile.

'Methought each moment something strange
Within their circles shone
And yet, through every magic change
They were Brenzaida's own.

'Methought -- what thought I not, sweet love?
My whole heart centred there;
I breathed not but to send above
One gush of ardent prayer.

'Bless it, my gracious God, I cried,
Preserve thy mortal shrine
For thine own sake, be thou its guide
And keep it still divine!

'Say, sin shall never blanch that cheek
Nor suffering charge that brow
Speak, in thy mercy maker, speak
And seal it safe from woe!

'Why did I doubt? In God's control
Our mutual fates remain
And pure as now, my angel's soul
Must go to heaven again!'

The revellers in the city slept
My lady, in her woodland bed;
I, watching o'er her slumber wept
As one who mourns the dead!





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