Viewing page 61 of 309

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

104 ANNA MARIA WELLS.

And haply on thy sinless vision now
Celestial forms may gleam, like morning mists
That yet shall brighten into perfect day;
Or to thy tender organs suited, soft
As breath of angels, music floats around; -
Melodious whisperings, that half unfold 
The harmonies enfranchised spirits know. 
Then, if such visions do they slumbers bless,
Sleep on, dear, sinless, happy dreamer, sleep;
For I would not the short-lived charm disturb,
Not e'en to meet shine eye's sad earnestness;
Those eyes that shed upon thy baby face
A tender, holy, melancholy light,-
Like seraph Pity guarding Innocence,
And yet more radiant shall their lustre be
When strong by struggle, eloquent by thought,
The mind shall dart its deeper meanings thence;
Or pure devotion's wrapt intensity
Look through their upward lights.
How soft the touch
Of thy dark silky hair! May vanity,
That feast upon, and spas the fairest flowers,
Blight not thy spirit's sweet development.
But may thy heart be artless as thy smile;
Like those clear eyes thy soul be luminous;
And when, at last, upspringing to its God,
Be freed from earthly stain, and rise to Heaven
Sweet as the balmy breath of infant sleep.

"WE'LL NEVER PART AGAIN."

AND say'st thou so? And canst thou lift
That veil in mercy cast 
Between thy destiny and thee,
The future and the past?

ANNA MARIA WELLS. 105

Say, is it Passion's breathing vow?
Or Friendship's promise given?
Or utterance of paternal love,
The purest under heaven?

Oh! if thy other self be now
Beside thee, -if thy own
That one loved hand may clasp; thy ear
Drink in that one loved tone;

Enjoy the fleeting hour,-forget
That earth has change or pain;-
But dare not whisper in thy bliss,
"We'll never part again."

Love's roses droop ere morn hath fled;
The violet smiles through tears;
The tall tree scatters to the blast
The brightest leaf it bears;

Each day, each hour, love's nearest ties
The hand of death may sever;
And they who live and love the best,
Fate oft divides for ever.

The friend so closely link'd to thee,
By faith so fondly plighted,-
The world's cold cautions intervene, 
And ye are disunited.

The most impassion'd love that warms
The purest, truest heart,
Or time, or grief or wrong may change,
Aud break the links apart.

Thy children-o'er their opening minds
Watch, watch with heart untired;
The ceaseless vigil keep, by hope,
By love, by Heaven inspired. 

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-06-28 12:29:23 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-06-28 11:01:59