Page:Landon in Literary Gazette 1822.pdf/3

2 Literary Gazette, 12th January, 1822, Page 27

ORIGINAL POETRY.

POETIC SKETCHES.

(Sketch the First "A woman’s whole life is a history of the affections. The heart is her world. She sends forth her sympathies in adventure; she embarks her whole soul in the traffic of love, and, if shipwrecked, her case is hopeless; it is bankruptcy of the heart.") "Who shall bring healing to thy heart’s despair, Thy whole rich sum of happiness lies there."

are dark yew-trees gathered round, beneath Are the white tombstones, and the green grass sods; No other sounds are heard, save the low voice Of a brook wandering by, or the wild song Of the sweet red-breast plaining o'er the graves. There is one tomb, distinguished from the rest By wild flowers braided round in curious wreathes Of April beauty; the blue violet Bending with dewdrops, like to maiden tears, Falling for love betrayed; the primrose wan, As sick with hope deceived; the wild briar-rose And honeysuckles fancifully linked, While watching them with fond and patient care, A pale and wasted Girl leans by that grave. She once was beautiful, but the hot sun Has left too rude a kiss upon her cheek, And she has lain on the damp grass, the sky Her only canopy; while the dew hung Amid her hair, and the hoarse night wind sung Her lullaby; and the unwholesome moss Has been her pillow; this has paled her brow, And that worst sickness, sorrow—She has lain Beside that grave, while some unholy star Shed over her evil influence. I marked her place the flowers round, then smile; Oh, such a sweet sad smile!—she sang at times; Her song had notes most musical, but strange, That thrilled the heart and wet the eye with tears.