Page:Poems of Sentiment and Imagination.djvu/215

Rh

me—have you ever met her—
 * Met the spirit of my song—

Have her wave-like footsteps glided
 * Through the city's worldly throng?

You will know her by a wreath,
 * Woven all of starry light,

That is lying 'mid her hair—
 * Braided hair as dark as night.

A short band of radiant summers
 * Is upon her forehead laid,

Twining half in golden sunlight,
 * Keeping half in dreamy shade;

Five white fingers clasp a lyre,
 * Five its silvery strings awake,

And bewildering to the soul
 * Is the music that they make.

Though her glances sleep like shadows
 * Neath each falling, silken lash,

Yet at aught that wakes resentment,
 * They magnificently flash.

Though you loved such dewy dream-light,
 * And such glances of sweet surprise,

You could never bear the scorn
 * Of these proud and brilliant eyes.

There's a sweet and winning curving
 * In her bright lip's crimson hue,

And a glittering tint of roses
 * From her soft cheek gleaming through;

Do you think that you have met her?
 * She is young and pure and fair,

And she wears a wreath of starlight
 * In her braided ebon hair.