VI. No echoes that will blend A sadness with the rustlings of the grove; No memory of a friend Far off, or dead, or chang'd to thee, thou Dove! VII. Oh! to some cool recess Take, take me with thee on the summer-wind! And all the fever of this life behind : VIII. The aching and the void Within the heart whereunto none reply, Bird bear me with thee thro' the sunny sky. IX. Wild wish, and longing vain, And brief upspringing to be glad and free! My soul is bound and held-I may not flee. X. For even by all the fears And thoughts that haunt my dreams-untold, unknown, And by the woman's tears Poured from mine eyes in silence and alone; XI. Had I thy wings, thou Dove! High 'midst the gorgeous isles of cloud to soar, Soon the strong cords of love Would draw me earthwards-homewards yet once more ! 190 THE VOICE OF HOME. THE VOICE OF HOME. TO THE PRODIGAL. OH! when wilt thou return The summer-birds are calling, And a thousand bright-veined flowers, 'Midst the banks of moss and fern, Breathe of the sunny hours But when wilt thou return? Oh! thou hast wandered long Thou hast flung the wealth away, But when wilt thou return? O'er the image of the sky Which the lake's clear bosom wore, Darkly may shadows lie But not for evermore. Give back thy heart again -But when wilt thou return? Still at thy father's board There is kept a place for thee, Still hath thy mother's eye, Still, when the prayer is said, With the offering of bright blood, Io! they come, they come ! IV. Sing it where olives wave, V. Mark ye the flashing oars, And the spears that light the deep? How the festal sunshine pours Where the lords of battle sweep! VI. Each hath brought back his shield;— VII. Who murmured of the dead? VIII. Breathe not those names to-day! IX. But now shed flowers, pour wine, THE BETTER LAND. "I HEAR thee speak of the better land, Thou call'st its children a happy band; Mother! oh, where is that radiant shore? Shall we not seek it, and weep no more? Is it where the flower of the orange blows, And the fire-flies glance through the myrtle boughs?" "Not there, not there, my child """ |