to georges sand.
107
Soft curls which droop around an oval cheek,
Calm brows where holy thought has power to give
Transfigured glory to a woman meek,
Are hers!
Calm brows where holy thought has power to give
Transfigured glory to a woman meek,
Are hers!
Her childhood smileth still around her mouth—
O'er thy white gleaming teeth, thy full lips part—
Eager for joys which may renew thy youth;
Some brief wild rapture which may cheat, yet warm,
Kindling the languor of a hopeless heart.
With thee life stagnates, or is flashing storm.
O'er thy white gleaming teeth, thy full lips part—
Eager for joys which may renew thy youth;
Some brief wild rapture which may cheat, yet warm,
Kindling the languor of a hopeless heart.
With thee life stagnates, or is flashing storm.
To shapeless horrors thou hast given name,
And woes, 'neath which poor tortured hearts had bowed
And borne till now in trembling patient shame,
Rose at thy call, and spoke their loud despair,
And women's wrongs, like opened graves, avowed
Their stark foul secrets to the startled air!
And woes, 'neath which poor tortured hearts had bowed
And borne till now in trembling patient shame,
Rose at thy call, and spoke their loud despair,
And women's wrongs, like opened graves, avowed
Their stark foul secrets to the startled air!
Thou wert Deliverer, but Victim too,
Th' avenger ever wears the martyr's palm;
It is the Orestes whom the fiends pursue—
Alone to foredoomed Hamlet's vengeful eyes
Th' avenger ever wears the martyr's palm;
It is the Orestes whom the fiends pursue—
Alone to foredoomed Hamlet's vengeful eyes
