Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE NUN'S SOLILOQUY, by ISABELLA LICKBARROW


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE NUN'S SOLILOQUY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Yon sun, who runs his annual course
Last Line: No convent walls divide.
Subject(s): Friendship; Nuns


Yon sun, who runs his annual course
About earth's varied bound,
While slow revolving seasons roll,
Their never-ceasing round—

Yon rising sun, whose early beams,
Returning beauty spreads,
And o'er those lonely convent walls
A golden lustre sheds—

Adorns a long forsaken world,
Which I no more must see;
Yet that forsaken world contains
One object dear to me.

The play-mate of my early years,
Companion of my youth,
In whose mild eye expressive shone
Intelligence and truth.

Like two fair rose-buds on one stem,
We grew, nor wish'd to part;
Our hopes, our fears, our joys the same,
We only had one heart.

Oh! days of innocent delight!
Oh! youth so dear to me!
How soon I bade a last adieu
To social life and thee.

A dying mother claim'd my vow,
My parting vow I gave,
That here I'd pass my future days,
And here should be my grave.

But ah! no language can describe
The anguish of my heart,
From thee, dear brother of my soul,
To be compell'd to part.

It griev'd me not to leave a world
Whose charms were yet unknown—
That world with all its gay delights,
I lov'd for thee alone.

Nor other joys I wish'd to prove,
Nor other pleasures know,
Than those thy converse and thy smile,
Thy friendship could bestow.

And when my trembling lips pronounc'd
The irrevocable vow—
That vow which ne'er can be recall'd,
Which seal'd my doom below.

That from my thoughts, all earthly things
Henceforth should banish'd be,
I in my bosom's secret shrine
Reserv'd one thought for thee.

And still in youthful beauty there
Does thy lov'd image dwell,
Its inmate in this lone abode,
This solitary cell.

Each daily orison enjoin'd,
Perform'd with duteous care;
Still ere I close my eyes, for thee
I breathe a secret pray'r.

And sure a love so pure as mine,
May hope to be forgiv'n,
Should harsh ungenerous mortals blame,
Sweet pity dwells in heav'n.

Perhaps ev'n saints from earth remov'd,
Some tender thoughts bestow,
And some fond recollections feel,
Of those they left below.

In that blest world may faithful friends,
By kindred minds allied,
Meet where no rigid vows forbid,
No convent walls divide.





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