Letitia Elizabeth Landon (L. E. L.) in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1837/Expectation
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EXPECTATION.
She looked from out the window
With long and asking gaze,
From the gold clear light of morning
To the twilight’s purple haze.
Gold and pale the planets shone,
Still the girl kept gazing on.
From her white and weary forehead
Droopeth the dark hair,
Heavy with the dews of evening,
Heavier with her care;
Falling as the shadows fall,
Till flung round her like a pall.
When from the carved lattice
First she leant to look,
Her bright face was written
Like some pleasant book;
Her warm cheek the red air quaffed,
And her eyes looked out and laughed.
She is leaning back now languid
And her cheek is white,
Only on the drooping eyelash
Glistens tearful light.
Colour, sunshine hours are gone,
Yet the Lady watches on.
Human heart this history
Is thy fated lot,
Even such thy watching
For what cometh not
Till with anxious waiting dull
Round thee fades the beautiful.
Still thou seekest on though weary,
Seeking still in vain;
Daylight deepens into twilight,
What has been thy gain?
Death and night are closing round,
All that thou hast sought unfound.