One word at parting-in the tone I thought of home, the according lays I felt some dear remembrance float, Of memory's glow, of dreams that shed The tinge of joy when joy is fled, * A trifling attempt at musical composition accompanied this Epistle.. And all the heart's illusive hoard Of love renew'd and friends restored! TO CARA, AFTER AN INTERVAL OF ABSENCE. CONCEAL'D within the shady wood The fruitage of the forest wild. But storms upon her path-way rise, * The poems which immediately follow. Far from the weak, appealing cries She hopes, she fears-a light is seen, Perhaps his little eyes are shaded Thus, when my soul with parting sigh, If parting pain'd thee half so much : I thought, and, oh! forgive the thought, Of fancying what his soul desired? Yes-I did think, in CARA's mind, Though yet to CARA's mind unknown, I left one infant wish behind, One feeling, which I call'd my own! Oh blest! though but in fancy blest, To shield and strengthen in thy breast And, many an hour beguiled by pleasure, I ne'er forgot the new-born treasure Perhaps, indifference has not chill'd it, TO CARA, ON THE DAWNING OF A NEW YEAR'S DAY WHEN midnight came to close the year, The hours it gave us-hours as dear Their blessed moments! every sun Saw us, my love, more closely one! But, CARA, when the dawn was nigh Which came another year to shed, The smile we caught from eye to eye Told us those moments were not fled; Thus may we ever, side by side, We give to hours that vanish o'er us, That Hope shall shed on scenes before us! TO THE INVISIBLE GIRL.* THEY try to persuade me, my dear little sprite, That you are not a daughter of ether and light, Nor have any concern with those fanciful forms That dance upon rainbows and ride upon storms; That, in short, you're a woman; your lip and your breast As mortal as ever were tasted or press'd! * This and the subsequent poem have appeared in the public prints. |