Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, RETURNED - 'MISSING', by ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

RETURNED - 'MISSING', by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Yes, I was sad and anxious
Last Line: Might be brought back at last.
Alternate Author Name(s): Berwick, Mary
Subject(s): Earth; Life; Time; World


YES, I was sad and anxious,
But now, dear, I am gay;
I know that it is wisest
To put all hope away: --
Thank God that I have done so,
And can be calm to-day!

For hope deferred -- you know it --
Once made my heart so sick:
Now, I expect no longer;
It is but the old trick
Of hope, that makes me tremble,
And makes my heart beat quick.

All day I sit here calmly;
Not as I did before,
Watching for one whose footstep
Comes never, never more. . . .
Hush! was that some one passing
Who paused beside the door?

For years I hung on chances,
Longing for just one word;
At last I feel it: -- silence
Will never more be stirred. . .
Tell me once more that rumor
You fancied you had heard.

Life has more things to dwell on
Than just one useless pain,
Useless and past forever;
But noble things remain,
And wait us all: . . . you too, dear,
Do you think hope vain?

All others have forgotten,
'Tis right I should forget,
Nor live on a keen longing
Which shadows forth regret:
Are not the letters coming?
The sun is almost set.

Now that my restless legion
Of hopes and fears is fled.
Reading is joy and comfort . . .
. . . This very day I read,
O, such a strange returning
Of one whom all thought dead!

Not that I dream or fancy,
You know all that is past;
Earth has no hope to give me,
And yet -- Time flies so fast
That all but the impossible
Might be brought back at last.





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