Felicia Hemans in The Garland 1839/To my own Portrait

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For other versions of this work, see To my own Portrait.

The actual portrait for which this was written is that by William E. West, 1827.

3050549Felicia Hemans in The Garland 1839 — To my own Portrait1839Felicia Hemans


Engraved by Edwd. Smith from a Miniature by Mr Edwd. Robertson.


TO MY OWN PORTRAIT.

By Mrs. Hemans.

How is it that before mine eyes,
    While gazing on thy mien,
All my past years of life arise,
    As in a mirror seen?
What spell within thee hath been shrined,
To image back my own deep mind?

Even as a song of other times
    Can trouble memory's springs;
Even as a sound of vesper-chimes
    Can wake departed things;
Even as a scent of vernal flowers
Hath records fraught with vanished hours;

Such power is thine!—they come, the dead,
    From the grave's bondage free,
And smiling back the changed are led,
    To look in love on thee;
And voices that are music flown
Speak to me in the heart's full tone.

Till crowding thoughts my soul oppress,
    The thoughts of happier years,
And a vain gush of tenderness
    O'erflows in childlike tears;

A passion which I may not stay,
A sudden fount that must have way.

But thou, the while—oh! almost strange,
    Mine imaged self! it seems
That on thy brow of peace no change
    Reflects my own swift dreams;
Almost I marvel not to trace
Those lights and shadows in thy face.

To see thee calm, while powers thus deep,
    Affection—Memory—Grief—
Pass o'er my soul as winds that sleep
    O'er a frail aspen-leaf!
Oh! that the quiet of thine eye
Might sink there when the storm goes by!

Yet look thou still serenely on,
    And if sweet friends there be,
That when my song and soul are gone
    Shall seek my form in thee,
Tell them of One for whom 'twas best
To flee away and be at rest!