Poems of Letitia Elizabeth Landon (L. E. L.) in Forget Me Not, 1827/Love's Motto
R. Westall, R.A. del. E. Finden sculpt. LOVE'S MOTTO.
|
FORGET ME NOT.
LOVE’S MOTTO.
Is it that natural impulse of the heart,
Its consciousness of immortality,
Which makes it happiness to be remembered?
Memory—the Hero buys it with his blood;
The Patriot, with proud sacrifice of self;
The Poet, with sweet music from his lute,
Of which his feelings are the subtle chords:
Nay, even the vain Rich build palaces
To make their name immortal: but of these
Is there one whose delight in memory
Can be like the young Lover’s?—’tis as life,
As hope, to know his image is secure,
Recall’d by all sweet thoughts in one fond heart.
The pictur’d scroll, that lies before me now,
Has wakened thoughts of this: upon the grass,
Fresh as his new-sprung feelings, kneels a youth,
While through the green boughs of the shadowy beech
The sunshine falls like rain-drops, and behind,
On a bright cloud, whose purple hue has caught
Its lustre from his wings, the boy-god floats—
He whose sway is of smiles, and sighs, and tears,
And yet whose rule is iron; he has lent
A golden arrow from his quiver’s store,
And the youth’s eager hand has on the bark
Carved these so gentle words, “FORGET ME NOT,”—
Murmuring the while one of those tender songs,
Which have their echo in each lover’s heart:
Wave—that wanderest singing by,
Bearing leaves and flowers with thee,
To the lady of my heart
Waft a benison from me.
Wind—that rov’st around the grove,
Kissing every flower nigh,
I’ll send thee on a sweeter search—
Bear my own sweet love my sigh.
Bark—that show’st my graven words,
Thine be yet a happier lot—
May’st thou meet my maiden’s eye,
Bidding her “Forget me not!”
L. E. L.