Classic and Contemporary Poetry
CI-DEVANT!, by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I cannot, if I would, call back again Last Line: Of happiness in love no more. Alternate Author Name(s): L. E. L.; Maclean, Letitia | ||||||||
I cannot, if I would, call back again The carly feelings of my love for thee, I love thee ever, but it is in vain To dream Love can be what it was to me. Some of its flowers have fallen from the chain, And showed that iron under them could be -- And it has entered in my soul: no more Can that soul revel in its dreams of yore. O NO, my heart can never be Again in lighted hopes the same -- The love that lingers there for thee Has more of ashes than of flame. Still deem not but that I am yet As much as ever all thine own; Though now the seal of love be set On a heart chilled almost to stone. And can you marvel? only look On all that heart has had to bear -- On all that it has yet to brook, And wonder then at its despair. Oh, Love is destiny, and mine Has long been struggled with in vain -- Victim or votary, at thy shrine There I am vow'd -- there must remain. My first -- my last -- my only love. O blame me not for that I dwell On all that I have had to prove Of Love's despair, of Hope's farewell. I think upon mine early dreams, When Youth, Hope, Joy, together sprung; The gushing forth of mountain-streams, On which no shadow had been flung. When Love seemed only meant to make A sunshine on life's silver seas -- Alas, that we should ever wake, And wake to weep o'er dreams like these! I loved, and Love was like to me The spirit of a faery tale, When we have but to wish, and be Whatever wild wish may prevail. I deemed that Love had power to part The chains and blossoms of life's thrall, Make an Elysium of the heart, And shed its influence over all. I linked it with all lovely things, Beautiful pictures, tones of song, All those pure, high imaginings That but in thought to earth belong. And all that was unreal became Reality when blent with thee -- It was but colouring that flame, More than a lava flood to me. I was not happy -- Love forbade Peace by its feverish restlessness; But this was sweet, and then I had Hope, which relies on happiness. I need not say how, one by one, Love's flowers have dropp'd from off Love's chain; Enough to say that they are gone, And that they cannot bloom again. I know not what the pangs may be That hearts betray'd or slighted prove -- I speak but of the misery That waits on fond and mutual love. The torture of an absent hour, When doubts mock Reason's faint control: -- 'Tis fearful thinking of the power Another holds upon our soul! To think another has in thrall All of life's best and dearest part -- Our hopes, affections, trusted all To that frail bark -- the human heart. To yield thus to another's reign; -- To live but in another's breath -- To double all life's powers of pain -- To die twice in another's death; While these things present to me seem, And what can now the past restore, Love as I may, yet I can dream Of happiness in Love no more. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FELICIA HEMANS by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON THE CASTLE OF CHILLON by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON THE FACTORY; 'TIS AN ACCURSED THING! by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON THE FEMALE CONVICT by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON THE MARRIAGE VOW by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON A CHILD SCREENING A DOVE FROM A HAWK, BY STEWARDSON by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON A COMPARISON by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON A GIRL AT HER DEVOTIONS, BY NEWTON by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON A HISTORY OF THE LYRE by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON A LADY'S BEAUTY by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON |
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