Letitia Elizabeth Landon (L. E. L.) in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1839/The Poet's Grave
65
THE POET’S GRAVE.
|
THE POET’S GRAVE.
’Tis his tomb—and trails around it
Wild flowers, fragrant, sweet, and dim;
Summer with a wreath hath bound it—
With a wild wreath worthy him.
Children of the sunny weather,
Nurtured by the careless air;
Fitting flowers are they to gather
O’er the wild one sleeping there.
Lovely are they in the morning,
Opening to the dewy wind,
Lifting up their sweet heads, scorning
Common culture of their kind.
But, ere evening comes, has perished
Fragrant breath and early glow:
None their fragile life has cherished—
None did his who sleeps below.
Even so did he inherit
Gifts that nature gives alone;
Frail as lovely was the spirit
Which to soon from earth has flown.
Many a line of his yet lingers,
Many a careless heart among:
For he was of earth’s sweet singers,
Whose whole soul is poured in song.
I remember him in childhood,
With his large and earnest eyes,
Wandering amid the wild wood,
Watching where the violet lies.
Or when the clear stars, united
Round the midnight’s solemn throne,
Gazing till his pale face lighted
With a beauty like their own.
Soon our valleys knew his singing—
Singing that was half divine;
From all fair things round him bringing
Tribute for his lovely line.
There he paid the rose sweet duty,
Linking love with every leaf;
And again the lily’s beauty
Lived, that else had been so brief.
And he sang of others’ sorrows,
Till his own each sorrow seemed:
Strange how soon the poet borrows
All of which he has but dreamed!
Yet it is this gift inspires him
In that holy shrine, the heart;
And the general love endears him
For in all love he hath part.
But such gift is bought too dearly
By a heart too prone to melt,
Griefs and troubles touch too nearly,
Where another scarce had felt.
And alas! too much dominion
Has a passing look and word;
Rude the empire of opinion
O’er the soul’s too fine-touched chord.
Soon he perished—weary-hearted,
From the cold and the unkind;
Yet what gifts hath the departed
Left a world he loved behind,
Lofty thought, and soft emotion—
Fancies exquisite as new;
And a generous devotion
To the beautiful and true.
Let the wild flowers droop above him
Let the dews of twilight weep—
They are fitting things to love him,
They are comrades for his sleep;
Human tears were unavailing,
Grief were an unsuiting guest.
Death against the world prevailing,
Hath but given him to rest.