Sonnets | Page 6

soul's fulfilment, makes Love shine?Upon our souls as His own light divine.?An effluence of His own deity.
Why ask for more? Our union is above?All earthly unions, ours those heights serene?Where Love alone is Heav'n and Heav'n is Love--?Where never comes the world's harsh breath between?Hope's fruits and flow'rs. Ah, why then earthward move,?Where pure and perfect bliss hath never been?
XIII
CONSTANCY
Ah, Love, I know that to my love thou art,?And must be, in this life, a dream,--a name!?But be it joy or grief, or praise or blame,?I give thee all the worship of my heart.?'Tis not for Love to bid life's cares depart;?Love wings the soul for Heaven whence it came.?Such love from Petrarch's soul did Laura claim,?And Beatrice to Dante did impart.
To thee I turn,--be thou or near or far,?And whether on my love thou frown or smile,--?As, in mid-ocean, to some fairy isle?Palm-crowned; as, in the heav'ns, to eve's bright star?Whose pure white fire allures the vision, while?Myriads of paler lights unnoticed are!
XIV
CALM AFTER STORM
Thou hast but seen what but mine eyes have shown--?Mine eyes that gazing on thee picture Heaven;?Thou hast but heard what but my voice hath given--?My voice that takes from thine a calmer tone.?Ah! couldst thou know all that my heart hath known,?While with Despair's dark phantoms it hath striven--?From faith to doubt, from joy to sorrow driven,?Till rescued and redeemed by Love alone,--
Thou wouldst not marvel were my cloudless brow?O'er-clouded, were my aspect less serene!?Love smiles on Death, unveils his mystery?Of joy and grief, and Love bids me avow?This truth, with chastened heart and tranquil mien,--?'Less pure Love's bliss if less Love's agony.'
XV
THE STAR OF LOVE
Time's cycle rolls--once more I hail the day?On which propitious Heaven sent to Earth,?Disguised in thy fair form, in mortal birth,?The Star of Love, whose pure celestial ray?Glides through the spirit's gloom and lights the way?To bliss! I hail thy coming 'midst the dearth?Of the soul's aspirations, when the worth?Of hearts like thine had ceased men's hearts to sway.
I greet thee, Love, and with thee scale the height,?That cloudless height where winged spirits rest:?Where the deep yearnings of the mortal breast,?From mortal bin set free, reveal to sight?That living Presence, that Eternal Light?In which enwrapt the eager soul is blest.
XVI
IMPRISONED MUSIC
Oh, had I but the poet's voice to sing,?Then would the music prisoned in my heart?(Panting in vain its message to impart)?Hover around thee, Love, on trembling wing,?To tell thee of the soft-eyed hopes that cling?To Love's white feet, the doubts and fears that start?And pierce his bosom with a poisoned dart,--?The smiles that soothe, the cold hard looks that sting!
But 'tis not mine, the soaring joy of Song:?I strive to voice my soul, but strive in vain.?Though passion thrills, and eager fancies throng,?Deckt in the varying hues of joy and pain,?Yet the weak voice--as weak as Love is strong--?Dies murm'ring on Love's throbbing heart again.
XVII
LOVE'S MESSAGE
We will not take Love's name; that little word,?By lips too oft profaned, we will not use.?From Nature's best and loveliest we will choose?Fit symbols for Love's message; like a bird,--?Whose warbled love-notes by its mate are heard?In greenwood glade,--shalt thou in strains profuse?The prisoned music of thy heart unloose,?While my heart's love is by sweet flow'rs averred.
Then take, O take these fresh-awakened flowers,?The symbols of my love, and keep them near,?Where they may feel thy breath and touch thy hand;?Then sing thy songs to me,--in silver showers?Pour forth, thine eager soul, and I shall hear;?Ah, thus will Love Love's message Understand!
XVIII
ECSTASY
The Nightingale upon the Rose's breast?Warbling her tale of life-long sorrow lies,?Till in love's tranc��d ecstasy her eyes?Close and her throbbing heart is set at rest;?For, to the yielding flow'r her bosom prest,?Death steals upon her in the sweet disguise?Of crown��d love and brings what life denies,--?mingling of the souls,--Love's eager quest!
Thus let my heart against thy heart repose,?Sigh forth its life in one delicious sigh,?Then drink new life from out thy balmy breath;?Thus in love's languor let our eyelids close,?And let our blended souls enchanted lie,?And dream of joy beyond the gates of death.
XIX
THE DREAM
Was it a dream, when, through the spirit's gloom,?I saw the yearning face of Beauty shine--?Soft in its human aspect, though divine,?Pleading for human love, though armed with doom??And was it but a dream, that faint perfume,?Blent of loose tress and soft lips joined to mine,?Those fair white arms that did my neck entwine,?That neck's sweet warmth, that smooth cheek's floral bloom?
Ah! was it true, or was it but a dream?Of bliss that scarce to mortal hearts is given??Ah! was it thou, Belov��d, or some bright?Phantom of thee that made thy presence seem,?Rich with the warmth of Life, the light of Heaven,?To hover o'er the realms where both unite?
XX
ETHEREAL BEAUTY
Nay, it was thou, when the fair Evening Star?Leaned on the purple bosom of the West;?'Twas thou, when