Page:The complete poems of Emily Bronte.djvu/167

Rh The afternoon in softened glory

Bathed each green swell and waving tree,

And the broad park spread before me

Stretched towards the boundless sea.

And there I stood when he had left me,

With ashy cheek and tearless eye,

Watching the ship whose sail bereft me

Of life and hope, and love and joy.

It past: that night I sought a pillow

Of sleepless woe and grieving lone;

My soul still bounded o'er the billow,

And mourned a love for ever flown.

Yet smiling bright in recollection

One blissful hour returns to me;

The letter told of firm affection,

Of safe deliverance from the sea.

But not another; fearing, hoping,

Spring, winter, harvest glided o'er;

And time at length brought power for coping

With thoughts I could not once endure.

And I would seek in summer evening

The place that saw our last farewell,

And there a chain of visions weaving,

I'd linger till the curfew bell.