The semi-weekly Republican. (St. Francisville, La.) 1872-1872, 1872-07-16
Written for THE SFMl-WEEKLy REPUBLICAN,. |
THE PORTRAIT.

Her eyes were black, and yet SO bright,
They seemed like orbs Of burning light;
And as you gazed they flashed with love
So strong as cen II stone to move.
Anon the brightness melted away.
Like sun.lit beams on April day.
Retiring hind some cloud to hide.
Yet lelming still, tho SO retired.
There passion, too laid claim to power.
Though soon its fiery reign was o'er,
For iii her heart was loves domain,
And from its rule her slances came.
They were sucl, eyes men neer forget.
But think Of eyer r with regret:
Like two bright stars tat heavtnward beam:
Those twia-Sr$ht stars sti'' follow me.
Her hair was dark as absent light
II waving ringlets taking flight,
That Aaaced in every floating .as4 breeze
One touch from but the tiniest hair
That strayetl on some soft breath Of air,
Had power the cOlest frame to thrill
With joy, which, gone, would linger still
She gave me witl,h.r last adieu.
One little lock of raven hue.
And babe me wear it next my heart
When we should be far, far apart.
have it still since that sad 'lay
When fate unpiity@ps ,l,.il @ bore he1 ava away
Tho dinnned long since BY many q tear;
Her face was as Of chiselled stone,
As clear and pure as virtues throne,
The faintest flush, ut times would hue
Tho velvet cheeks, 50 soft to view,
Fen as the SUMS last iingeringlay
On some cold statue stopped to play;
Or Us the light. thrO' curtains rcd,
In rndly RAYS on walls il shed.
Each moment DER its surface strOlled
The varied beating OF the soul,
Whose every act was mirrOretl there
As stainless as the face was fair.
There truth and faith together reigned,
But nothing false and nothing feignctl.
And over all, like clOudless sky,
Sweet peace would ever bless tho eye.
A something sad, tho not akin
TO grief, or MntOrgOtten sin,
Seemed part Of all, tho sad yet sweet,
Like shades that in a picture meet,
%ss,s wc ssnss ssaSs snsss
The mouth. in keeping with the face,
With lips where sportei every grace,
Disclosing oft two dazzling rows
Ofpinksh pearls within the doors.
A man might barter mines OF gOld,
Enslave himself, be bought and sold,
TO press one quick but thrilling kiss
On mouth SO sweet and loved MS this,
But when she spoke, your soul would husli
Its very life, until the .gush
Of angel music passed away:
SO sweet, divine, that VOICES sway,
Once sounded in the willing ear,
You'd think twas ever echoed near.
To meet was life, and hope. and heaven,
More dear and dearly cherished even,
Than household tones Of childish days,
Or fame's entearing sounds Of praise
We loved, and oft she blushingly told,
In words that meier can be Old,
The simple faith that swayed her heart,
A heart in which eartl! had no part.
Fen now when years have swept on by
In many n round since then sigh,
As memories floating from the past
Bring back the time heard her last.
This brow bears many a tangled line
BY sorrow traced since that dear time,
And aye has built its loary throne
On locks as dark as ravens own;
Rut in the heart, that's ever green,
Her voice is still as sweet as then.
Twas such she was; can wonder grow
l still should love her memory go;
| Or tnat since she trOnbearth has flown,
l live content to like al0nel
E. F. NJ.