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Mazelli； and Other Poems
I know not how it is；my heart is stern； And little giv'n to thoughts
of tenderness； Yet looking on thy young brow it will yearn； And in my
bosom's innermost recess； Thoughts that have slumbered long awake and
burn With a wild strength which nothing can repress！ Be still； worn
heart； be still； does not the cold And heavy clayclod mingle with her
mould？
Yes； 'tis that in thy soft check's tender bloom； Thy black eyes'
brightness； in each graceful move； I trace the lineaments of one to whom
My soul was wedded in an early love； 'Twas in my boyhood； but the
insatiate tomb Claimed her fair form； and for the realms above Her
spirit fled the earth； oh！ how I wept That mine should in its bondage
still be kept。
I mind the hour I stood beside the clay I had so loved in lifeit still
was fair； Surpassing fair； in death； and as she lay With the thick tresses
of her long dark hair Gathered above the brow whence feeling's ray
Had fled； because death's shadow darkened there； Her more than earthly
beauty made her seem The incarnation of some pure bright dream。
I stood and gazed： the pale grave sheet was wound About the form
from which life's spark was fled； For ever fled；wet eyes were weeping
round； And voices full of sorrow mourned the dead； I could not weep； a
sadness more profound Than that from which those heart…drops； tears；
are shed； Was in my soul；for then the icy spell Of desolation freezing o'er
me fell。
And from that hour I have been alone； Alone when crowds were
round me。 May thy fate Be coloured with a brighter hue； and strown
With flowers where mine is thorns；where mine is hate； And strife； and
bitter discord； may thine own Be love； and hope； and peacefor these
create The sunshine of existence； may their light Beam ever round thee；
warm； and glad； and bright。
THE LOCK OF HAIR。
It is in sooth a lovely tress； Still curled in many a ring； As glossy as
the plumes that dress The raven's jetty wing。 And the broad and soul…
illumined brow； Above whose arch it grew； Was like the stainless
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Mazelli； and Other Poems
mountain snow； In its purity of hue。
I mind the time 'twas given to me； The night； the hour； the spot；
And the eye that pleaded silently； 〃Forget the giver not。〃 Oh！ myriads
of stars； on high； Were smiling sweetly fair； But none was lovely as the
eye That shone beside me there！
Above our heads an ancient oak Its strong； wide arms held out； And
from its roots a fountain broke； With a tiny laughing shout； And the
fairy people of the wild Were bending to their rest； As trustingly as
sleeps the child Upon its mother's breast。
Soft； silvery cloudlets； pure and white； Along the sky were hung；
As if the spirits of the night Their mantles there had flung； And then the
night…breeze pensively Sighed from its unseen throne； And far o'er field；
and flower； and tree； A hallowed light came down。
But in our breasts was springing up A something lovelier far； Than
field； or tree； or flow'ret's cup； Or sun； or moon； or star！ We heeded not
the fountain near； Its song of gladness singing； For in our hearts a fount
more dear； And pure； and sweet； was springing。
And she was one whom fortune's smile Had gladdened from her
birth； Yet her high spirit knew no guile； No blot nor stain of earth； And
I was but a friendless boy； And yet her heart was mine； I knew it； and
the thought was joy； A joy all； all divine！
From out a braided mass she took This single lock of jet； And gave
it with that pleading look Which； said； 〃Do not forget。〃 Forget！ as soon
the waves that roll The ocean's caves above； May tell their secrets； as
the soul Forget its earliest love。
It has been with me now for years； Long years of care and strife；
And shall be with me till time wears Away my web of life。 And when
death's keen； resistless dart； Shall bid its sorrows cease； This tress shall
rest upon my heart； Its talisman of peace。
〃'Twas little she thought that I stood breathless by her side listening
to the song she sang as she sat by the sea's edge； pondering so deeply；
upon me too perhaps； that the white foam glimmered on her brow
unheeded。〃 Onagh； The Pale Child of the Brehon King。
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Mazelli； and Other Poems
She stood beside the wide wild sea； The winds howled hoarse and
high； And dark clouds； drifting drearily； Swept o'er the starless sky。
Her breast was white as mountain snow； Her locks hung loose and
free； The foam that glimmered on her brow； Was scarce so pale as she。
She sang a mournful song of love； Of trusting love betrayed； Ah；
why did he who won her； prove So faithless to the maid？
〃Why pines my heart so wearily； Why heaves my aching breast；
And why is sleep so far from me； When others are at rest？
〃Thou； truant wanderer o'er the deep； The cause of all my cares； For
thee at night I wake and weep； When none may mark my tears。
〃I seek the festive hall no more； Its mirth no more I crave； My heart
is lonely as the shore； And restless as the wave。
〃My soul has struggled to forget Its sleepless； fatal flame； I know
thy vows were false； and yet My love is still the same。
〃Still o'er the dream I nursed too well； My bursting heart will yearn；
For ever with me must it dwell； Oh； wanderer； return！〃
A white sail fluttered in the wind； A light bark skimmed the sea； It
came like hope across the mind； As swift and silently。
The shell…strewn beach that edged the main； A manly footstep
pressed； The wanderer had returned again； The maiden's heart was
blessed！
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Mazelli； and Other Poems
THE DESERTED。
〃Come； sit thee by my side once more； 'Tis long since thus we' met；
And though our dream of love is o'er； Its sweetness lingers yet。 Its
transient day has long been past； Its flame has ceased to burn； But
Memory holds its spirit fast； Safe in her sacred urn。
〃I will not chide thy wanderings； Nor ask why thou couldst flee A
heart whose deep affection's springs Poured forth such love for thee！
We may not curb the restless mind； Nor teach the wayward heart To
love against its will； nor bind It with the chains of art。
〃I would but tell thee how； in tears And bitterness； my soul Has
yearned with dreams； through long； long； years； Which it could not
control。 And how the thought that clingeth to； And twineth round the
past； For ever in my heart shall glow； And be save one my last。
〃They say thou hast another's love； Well； cherish it； but thou Its
lack of strength and depth wilt prove； Should sorrow cloud thy brow。
Though she may own a statelier form； A fairer cheek than mine； Her
heart cannot so well and warm； Respond each throb of thine。〃
Her words were gentle； but their tone Was sad as sorrow's sigh； A
tear…drop trembled in his own As he sought her downcast eye。 A chord
was struck within his breast That long untouched had lain； Old
memories started from their rest； The maid was loved again。
Stanzas。
On！ there are hours of sadness； when the soul； Torn from its every
stay； and crushed beneath Its many griefs； and spurning faith's control；
Pants with an earne