Page:Songs of the Affections.pdf/19

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—Communion with the dead!—I sent a cry, Through the veil'd empires of eternity, A voice to cleave them! By the mournful truth, By the lost promise of my blighted youth, By the strong chain a mighty love can bind On the beloved, the spell of mind o'er mind; By words, which in themselves are magic high, Arm'd, and inspired, and wing'd with agony; By tears, which comfort not, but burn, and seem To bear the heart's blood in their passion-stream; I summon'd, I adjured!—with quicken'd sense, With the keen vigil of a life intense, I watch'd, an answer from the winds to wring, I listen'd, if perchance the stream might bring Token from worlds afar: I taught one sound Unto a thousand echoes; one profound Imploring accent to the tomb, the sky; One prayer to night,—"Awake, appear, reply!"

Hast thou been told that from the viewless bourne, The dark way never hath allow'd return?