Like a verdure-girt spring in the wide desert plains— Like the stroke, bringing freedom, by the riving of chains, Aye, Life’s every essence of pleasure Had been love’s requital, that long ago morn; Still ever I’ll count, (yet this rose has its thorn) Having loved, though I lost, as a treasure. * * * * * Tho’ hopes were all blighted that haloed my youth, And withered the flowers I deemed rooted in truth,— Tho’ sunshine will brighten no morrow, Yet never accusing’s deep bitterness stirs The heart, that would only pour joy into her’s, And the tenderest soothing for sorrow. Her spirit dwelt ever in dreamy ideal, While mine was so earthy and chained to the real, With the heavens all brazen above me:— All nature to hers echoed hymnings divine, While doubts of a future, stirred ever in mine— No marvel she never could love me. But somehow, with Destiny’s mystical skein, My love has entangled my infidel brain And bound it with hope, to a heaven; I dream of a sphere, we may find beyond this Where—blessed fruition! life’s coveted bliss To the purified soul will be given. Estranged. O, to be near to you!—Oh, to be dear to you!— To feel in my heart, that your heart is my own. All days have been dreary—my soul is aweary, And still, must I walk in this dark way alone? O, fond was my dreaming, when hope’s star was beaming, When fancy’s bright web like a mantle of gold, Lay over life’s losses—its trials and crosses, And hid them, in splendors, of fold upon fold. I thought then to follow (Oh, heartless and hollow!) Where Fashion’s throng led, and to kneel where it knelt— Thought Love’s nectared chalice was found in a palace— In princely halls only, true happiness dwelt. But Fashion’s vile brew, is of wormwood and rue— It prays where the virtues are trampled and dead— The bane we thought gladness, has led to this madness; Dissipation came in, and the Peace-angel fled. No wandering emotion e’er sullied devotion, But anger’s hot lava my reason o’erran; In the coolness of pride, (that love’s fervor belied) The sorrows and pangs of estrangement began. Be rashness forgiven, bring back to us heaven— Our Eden-like home, with its love-lighted skies; Tho’ parted forever, affection dies never— ’Tis knit into life with indissoluble ties. The rills that have mingled, can never be singled— They’ll flow on as one in their course to the sea; By love, early plighted, our souls were united, And ever—forever united must be. Entwining each thought—with tenderness fraught— Is loving, enduring remembrance of thee, And, deep in your heart, in its holiest part, I know there’s a hidden affection for me. Shall life be all nighted—Love’s flame ne’er be lighted, While I—by its altar with ashes o’er strewn— Must ever remember thro’ constant December, The balmy bright days and the roses of June?