O! happy fleshly lips that glow With kisses love-besought or ta'en, And happy breasts whose breathings flow To merge their sighs where they be fain. O! happy hearts athrob with blood, In loving kindness side by side, And happy arms of loverhood That hold each other fondly tied; And happy fingers too that clasp, And eyes that gaze, and bodies prone That are at peace in slumber's hasp, And nought at all when life is flown. But what have souls but wretchéd spite? That must for ever live aloof, Like flames that glow with ardent light Behind a lantern lustre-proof. Against their prison's cloudy wall They feel their burning kinship urge, And vainly on their neighbour call Whose ardour cannot meet and merge. For these that are immortal held Were better far a single day Of life to feel their longing quelled And in espousal burnt away! |