That chamber was familiar, and I could not turn away—
'Twas my own deserted being that upon the couch yet lay.
I watched with breathless eagerness—from 'neath her starry wing.
The angel took a warbler, a bright and radiant thing,
And with a tearful blessing she sent it down to rest
On the spirit-chords forever within the sleeper's breast.
Then darkness came upon me, the brightness left no trace,
Down, down I felt me sinking through dark and dizzy space,
Till I lay within my chamber, and the moonlight's silver gleam
Startled me from my slumber, and I knew it was a dream!
And now since that sweet vision, forever at the sight
Of any thing that's beautiful, or eloquent, or bright—
At every tone of music, at good and gentle things,
I feel a flutter in my heart the the fluttering of wings—
And I hear a low, wild warble, so strangely soft and sweet,
That with feelings inexpressible my pulse doth faster beat;
And I would not give the music that it sings unto my soul
For the diamonds of Golconda or a crowned queen's control
FRAGMENT.
From out the restless waters of the sea
The pale moon rises with her placid face—
So from the restless beating of my heart
A vision, fairer than the moon, steals up.
There were wild storms upon the sea last night!
Its waters had a sound of woe and madness—
So were there storms of passion in my heart
That had a sound of muttering and moans!
The sea is full of light and song this eve;
Its waves breathe music as they kiss the shore—
And so my heart is melted in its mood,
And murmurs e'er with tenderness and peace!
