In the Fire-light.
Alone, yes, alone in the old room together !1
Without,—there is darkness and plashing of rain ;2
The bleak wind goes wailing across the wet heather,3
And wildly the laurel-boughs dash at the pane :4
Within,—there is fire-light that flickers and darkens,5
Like flashes of hope leaping up from despair ;6
The hound at your feet pricks his ears as he hearkens7
To all those weird voices that moan through the air.8
Ah me, the red gleam,—how it quivers and lingers9
Around the bright head with its tresses of gold !10
It lights up the gems on the slender white fingers,11
And touches the robe in each amethyst fold :12
Long years have not palèd the beauty that tinges13
Your cheek with the delicate pink of the shell,14
And still the brown eyes wear the brown silken fringes15
Half veiling the glance I remember so well.16
Together once more,—to be parted to-morrow !17
What brings back the visions that haunt me to-night ?18
No thrill of old feeling,—no touch of old sorrow19
Can shadow your life-dream of summer delight ;20
When sky-larks are singing, and May blossoms blushing,21
Come, show me the woman who pauses to shed22
One tear for the dry leaves her footfall is crushing—23
Sere leaves of last autumn, all trampled and dead !24
Together once more,—in the room where we plighted25
The vows that are broken,—the troth that is lost !26
And here, in the midst of a life you have blighted27
I pardon your falseness,—whatever it cost :28
My heart has resigned you,—it only remembers29
The long, bitter sorrow,—the years of unrest ;—30
As sinks the last gleam in those dull, fading embers,31
The last flame of passion goes out in my breast !32