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Home  »  The World’s Best Poetry  »  Song of Egla

Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.

II. Parting and Absence

Song of Egla

Maria Gowen Brooks (Maria del Occidente) (1794?–1845)

DAY, in melting purple dying;

Blossoms, all around me sighing;

Fragrance, from the lilies straying;

Zephyr, with my ringlets playing;

Ye but waken my distress;

I am sick of loneliness!

Thou, to whom I love to hearken,

Come, ere night around me darken;

Though thy softness but deceive me,

Say thou ’rt true, and I ’ll believe thee;

Veil, if ill, thy soul’s intent,

Let me think it innocent!

Save thy toiling, spare thy treasure;

All I ask is friendship’s pleasure;

Let the shining ore lie darkling,—

Bring no gem in lustre sparkling;

Gifts and gold are naught to me,

I would only look on thee!

Tell to thee the high-wrought feeling,

Ecstasy but in revealing;

Paint to thee the deep sensation,

Rapture in participation;

Yet but torture, if comprest

In a lone, unfriended breast.

Absent still! Ah! come and bless me!

Let these eyes again caress thee.

Once in caution, I could fly thee;

Now, I nothing could deny thee.

In a look if death there be,

Come, and I will gaze on thee!