32
Not Understood
LEAH.
FREE at last from the gloom that clouded
Life and love in thy sinking day;
Thy brow is veil’d, thy fair limbs shrouded,
Clay is married again to clay.
Life and love in thy sinking day;
Thy brow is veil’d, thy fair limbs shrouded,
Clay is married again to clay.
Free at last from the curse of beauty,
Free at last from the weeds that grow
Round the buds on the path of duty,
Where genius walks; ’tis better so—
Free at last from the weeds that grow
Round the buds on the path of duty,
Where genius walks; ’tis better so—
Better so, when the world grows dreary;
Better so, when young hopes have fled;
Better so, when the heart grows weary—
Better living among the dead.
Better so, when young hopes have fled;
Better so, when the heart grows weary—
Better living among the dead.
Living among the dead—I’ve said it—
Some may rot, and some shall rise
Out of the grave; then who shall dread it?
’Tis but the soulless clod that dies.
Some may rot, and some shall rise
Out of the grave; then who shall dread it?
’Tis but the soulless clod that dies.
Strangers smoothed thy raven tresses
Over thy marble brow, my girl;
Closed thy lips with no fond caresses.
Closed them over the rows of pearl.
Over thy marble brow, my girl;
Closed thy lips with no fond caresses.
Closed them over the rows of pearl.
Strangers seal’d up those orbs whose flashes
Kindled often a quenchless spark;
Seal’d them under their long dark lashes,
Cover’d thy face and then all was dark.
Kindled often a quenchless spark;
Seal’d them under their long dark lashes,
Cover’d thy face and then all was dark.
