Page:Hemans in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine 30 1831.pdf/2



thou of Heaven?—What dreams are thine? Fair child, fair gladsome child! With eyes that like the dewdrop shine, And bounding footstep wild.

Tell me what hues th' immortal shore Can wear, my Bird! to thee, Ere yet one shadow hath pass'd o'er    Thy glance and spirit free?

"Oh! beautiful is heaven, and bright    With long, long summer days! I see its lilies gleam in light,     Where many a fountain plays.

"And there unchecked, methinks, I rove,    Seeking where young flowers lie, In vale and golden-fruited grove—     Flowers that are not to die!"

Thou Poet of the lonely thought, Sad heir of gifts divine! Say, with what solemn glory fraught Is Heaven in dream of thine?

"Oh! where the living waters flow    Along that radiant shore, My soul, a wanderer here, shall know     The exile-thirst no more!

"The burden of the stranger's heart    Which here unknown I bear, Like the night-shadow shall depart,     With my first wakening there.

"And borne on eagle-wings afar,    Free thought shall claim its dower From every sphere, from every star,     Of glory and of power."

O woman! with the soft sad eye Of spiritual gleam! Tell me of those bright realms on high, How doth thy deep heart dream?

By thy sweet mournful voice I know, On thy pale brow I see, That thou hast lov'd in silent woe, Say, what is Heaven to thee?

"Oh! Heaven is where no secret dread    May haunt Love's meeting hour; Where from the past, no gloom is shed     O'er the heart's chosen bower:

"Where every sever'd wreath is bound;    And none have heard the knell That smites the soul in that wild sound—     Farewell, belov'd!—Farewell!"