To One in Paradise

Thou wast that all to me, love,
﻿For which my soul did pine—
A green isle in the sea, love,
﻿A fountain and a shrine,
All wreathed with fairy fruits and flowers,
﻿And all the flowers were mine.
Ah, dream too bright to last!
﻿Ah, starry Hope! that didst arise
But to be overcast!
﻿A voice from out the Future cries,
"On! On!"—but o'er the Past
﻿(Dim gulf!) my spirit hovering lies
Mute, motionless, aghast!
For, alas! alas! with me
﻿The light of Life is o'er!
﻿"No more—no more—no more—"
(Such language holds the solemn sea
﻿To the sands upon the shore)
Shall bloom the thunder-blasted tree,
﻿Or the stricken eagle soar!
And all my days are trances,
﻿And all my nightly dreams
Are where thy dark eye glances,
﻿And where thy footstep gleams—
In what ethereal dances,
﻿By what eternal streams.
Category:EAP
Category:Poetry