Ah! Could my wakening spirit but forget The pain, the pang, and wrong and vain regret That fills my life's horizon,—a sense of wings A-rift into the peerless golden cloud Of Love; her mists extinguished; broken strings O'er beauty flesh and blood, night-wrapt and proud, Touched with the jeweled fingers from the sorrower's arm; Nearer, yet nearer, secret sad alarm, Thirsting anguish, chill of hopeless grief, In sunset skies where daylight now hath fled. Dumb the lips and breath that gave relief, And crowned my life with all its gentle grace; Those arms that softly twined, warm, turquoise veined Around me—such hours never more regained! So far away the laughter, song and glee, The up-surge in the world tides distraught Of other scenes in olden days, care free, In passion measureless—trembling caught Foam-flung, 'twixt boundless oceans unrestrained! So tired of struggle, stress, strife and pain,— As back the shoreless sea, and back again Its darkening glens and half-concealed things! The numbing fragrance of the Past—her eyes Laid on me with the weight of destinies! Love's glow, sweet touch, close-merging soul embrace Brings Heaven itself, with all its joys o'er head To throbbing whispers; tender heart-beats set So partly human but more part divine. Ah! Could my wakening spirit but forget My Love now dead, but once so wholly mine! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...REVELATION AT CAP FERRAT by CLARENCE MAJOR NOCTURNE IN A MINOR KEY by CONRAD AIKEN THE CAMELOPARD by HILAIRE BELLOC I COULD TAKE by HAYDEN CARRUTH THE SITTING by CECIL DAY LEWIS EVENING IN A SUGAR ORCHARD by ROBERT FROST |