Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Asia: Vols. XXI–XXIII. 1876–79.
If Thou Wert by My Side
By Reginald Heber (17831826)While on a Visit to Upper India
I
How fast would evening fail
In green Bengala’s palmy grove,
Listening the nightingale!
My babies at my knee,
How gayly would our pinnace glide
O’er Gunga’s mimic sea!
When, on our deck reclined,
In careless ease my limbs I lay,
And woo the cooler wind.
My twilight steps I guide,
But most beneath the lamp’s pale beam
I miss thee from my side.
The lingering noon to cheer,
But miss thy kind, approving eye,
Thy meek, attentive ear.
Beholds me on my knee,
I feel, though thou art distant far,
Thy prayers ascend for me.
My course be onward still;
O’er broad Hindostan’s sultry meads,
O’er bleak Almorah’s hill.
Nor wild Malwah detain;
For sweet the bliss us both awaits
By yonder western main.
Across the dark-blue sea;
But ne’er were hearts so light and gay
As then shall meet in thee!