With desperate earnestness; and staying even Haply to catch a sound betokening life. With which she bends o'er that unmoving clay? I THINK OF THEE! In alto poggio, in vall' im' e palustre : PETRARCA. I. I THINK of thee-I think of thee,And all that thou hast borne for me;In hours of gloom, or heartless glee, I think of thee-I think of thee! II. When fiercest rage the storms of Fate, And all around is desolate, I pour on Life's tempestuous sea The oil of peace, with thoughts of thee! D III. When Fortune frowns, and Hope deceives me, And summer-friendship veers and leaves me, A Timon-from the world I flee ; My wreck of wealth-sweet dreams of thee! IV. Or if I join the careless crowd, Where laughter peals, and mirth grows loud, Even in my hours of revelry I think of thee,—I think of thee! I think of thee,-I think and sigh O'er blighted years and bliss gone by ; And mourn the stern, severe decree That hath but left me-thoughts of thee! VI. In youth's gay hours, 'mid Pleasure's bowers, When all was sunshine, mirth, and flowers, And told a tender tale to thee! VII. 'Twas summer's eve, the Heavens above Earth-ocean-air, were full of love; Nature around kept jubilee, When first I breathed that tale to thee! VIII. The crystal clouds that hung on high Seemed emblems of repose and thee! IX. I spoke of hope;-I spoke of fear ;— But this was eloquence to me, And more than I had asked of thee! X. I looked into thy dewy eye, And echoed thy half stifled sigh;-- The soul of love and truth to thee! XI. The scene and hour are past; yet still Which kindles at a thought of thee! XII. We loved :-how wildly, and how well, 'Twere worse than idle now to tell! From love and life alike thou 'rt free, And I am left-to think of thee! XIII. Though years-long years-have darkly sped Since thou wert numbered with the dead, In fancy oft thy form I see,— In dreams, at least, I'm still with thee! XIV. Thy beauty-helplessness and youth,— Are spells that often touch the key Of sweet but mournful thoughts of thee! |