Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1881-03-29
THE BRISTOL NEWS
/. q. FOWLER,
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR,
TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 1881.
Introspection.

InOuBnt)
She never was dear TO me?
Your pride Is touched--you've cast her Of
You think that all is done;
For you the world moves bravely round
And brightly shines the sun,
You've washed your hands of passion,
You've whistled her down the wind
All Tom, old boy, this goes before,
But the sharpest comes behind,
The sharpest comes, for love is a plant
That never, never dies.
Its roots are as deep Ms the earth itself,
Its branches broad as the skies,
And whenever II once has taken hold
1t flourishes ever more,
Blossoming and bca,ing fruit,
Perhaps with bitter core.
You will learn this, Tom, hereafter;
When anger has cooled, and you
Have time for introspection,
You will learn my words are true.
You'll sit and gaze in your fire alone,
And fancy that you can see
Her face in its classical oval,
Her ringets luttering free,
Her deep, blue eyes wide open,
Her sweet, red lips apart,
As she used to look IN the halcy0n DAYS
When YOU tilncicd she had heart.
Whcre'cr you 90, whereof you turn,
you'll see that glorious face,
Coming In shadowy beauty
10 haunt all time, all plncc;
The songs you wrote for her singing
VIII sing themselves to your brain
Till your life seems set to their rythm,
Your soul to their sad refrain,
The old, old burden of love and grief,
The passions you've forcsworn,
Believe me, tom, it is not cast Off
As easily as you think this morn.
But the worst, perhaps, the worst of all,
IL where the day has flown,
When darkness favors reflection,
And yOurcomrade have left you alone.
You'll try to sleep, but the memory
OF uniorgotten years
VIII come with storm Of wild regrets,
Perhaps with storm of tears,
Each word, each look, each touching
tone.
Each tlmid little caress,
The golden CLEAN Of her sumlit hair,
The rustlng Of her dress;
The delicate touch of her ungloved hand
That sent such an exquisite thrill;
The flowers she gave you the night Of
the ball
think that you treasure them still,
All this will come till you slumbcr,
Worn ont by sheer despair,
And then you'll hear in the distance
Vague echos Of an air
Vague cchos, rising and falling,
OF nm air you loved 80 well,
Like the song that was sung by the Lurh
mid,
Sweet with deddiy knell.
In dreams she will ever again be yours,
And then you'll fondly see.
Fair gllmpses Of what might have been,
What nOp can neUer be;
AMI when she comes TO meet you,
With n sudden wild unrest
You'll stretch your arms ont lovingly
To clasp her TO your breast,
But the Lurli song will faint and die,
And with It's fading tone
You'll wake to find that you clasp
The thin and empty air alone,
While the fire bells clang dlssonancc
On the gusty night wind borne,
Will seem an irOn-tongued demons voice
Laughing your grief to scorn,
Oh, Tom you say It's all over;
You talk about letters aud rings
DO you think, then, loves mighty
spirit
IL held by such trldlng things9
No! II you've ever loved
You'll still love on | know,
I'll the church and myrtle blooms above
Aud you be mute below.
How II It, wonder, hcrcalter2
Faith teaches little here
OF those we've loved aud lost on earth
DO yo think they will still be dearY
Shall we lead the lives we might have
lcdg
WIN those who ARE severed now
Remember The pledge of the lower
sphere
And renew the broken vowY
II almost drives me mad TO tn nix
What Jewels we lliug away,
Unhocdlng whether or not we lose
l.llc's honey aud wine for aye,
And yet u u mighty joy
Greater than can tell
To trust TINT the parted win hereafter
meet
And all again viii be- well.
But this know that all the woes
That come to ~ on earth
Have IN this violence done TO love
Their lruc Legitimate fruits,
And the agony We suffer here.
when The heart II lcll alone
For all the sins Of humanity
Might well and truly atone
I see thni you marvel greatly. Tom,
To hear such words from me,
Hut II you knew my Utmost heart
Twould bc no mystery;
For |, too, have closet
With ghastly form inside,
Tue skeleton Of n pcrlshcd love,
Killed by cruel pride,
And too, vi by my fire alone ,
As you will sometimes W.T..
Aud watch In II o cnts halr-ligt
The ghosts OF happiness Mt.
And |, too, stretch my nrms out
Az midnight 10 cnlold
A vague and shawowy Image
With ircsscs of brown aud gold,
Experience IA bitter, Tom,
Hut liz teachings we retain
II has taught me thlsi Who once has |
loved
Loves nc'cr ON earth again,
Experience II bitter indeed
I've learned NJ n heavy cost
The secret of loves pcrslslcuCy--
|, ton, have loved aud lost.
-LOuisriHo COWier-jourudi, |
PLANTERS HOTEL,
AZ THE DEPOT.
A u A. ~ Nh 4. IL Il a.