Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND (NEW WORDS TO AN OLD AIR), by HENRY CLARENCE KENDALL


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND (NEW WORDS TO AN OLD AIR), by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: With sweet regret - (the dearest thing that yesterday has left us)
Last Line: So she may lean upon my love, the girl I left behind me.
Subject(s): Love - Loss Of


With sweet Regret -- (the dearest thing that Yesterday has left us) --
We often turn our homeless eyes to scenes whence Fate has reft us.
Here sitting by a fading flame, wild waifs of song remind me
Of Annie with her gentle ways, the Girl I left behind me.

I stood beside the surging sea, with lips of silent passion --
I faced you by the surging sea, O brows of mild repression!
I never said -- "my darling, stay!" -- the moments seemed to bind me
To something stifling all my words for the Girl I left behind me.

The pathos worn by common things -- by every wayside flower,
Or Autumn leaf on lonely winds, revives the parting hour.
Ye swooning thoughts without a voice -- ye tears which rose
to blind me,
Why did she fade into the Dark, the Girl I left behind me.

At night they always come to me, the tender and true-hearted;
And in my dreams we join again the hands which now are parted;
And, looking through the gates of Sleep, the pleasant Moon
doth find me
For ever wandering with my Love, the Girl I left behind me.

You know my life is incomplete, O far-off faint Ideal!
When shall I reach you from a depth of darkness which is real?
So I may mingle, soul in soul, with her that Heaven assigned me;
So she may lean upon my love, the Girl I left behind me.





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