Remorse

    Rapid clouds have drunk the last pale beam of even：

    Away！ the gathering² winds will call the darkness soon

    And profoundest midnight shroud³ the serene⁴ lights of heaven.

    Pause not！ the time is past！ Every voice cries 'Away！'

    Tempt⁵ not with one last tear thy friend's ungentle mood：

    Thy lover's eye so glazed⁶ and cold dares not entreat⁷ thy stay：

    Duty and dereliction guide thee back to solitude⁸.

    Away away！ to thy sad and silent home；

    Pour bitter tears on its desolated⁹ hearth¹⁰；

    Watch the dim shades as like ghosts they go and come

    And complicate¹¹ strange webs of melancholy¹² mirth.

    The leaves of wasted autumn woods shall float around thine head

    The blooms of dewy Spring shall gleam beneath thy feet：

    But thy soul or this world must fade in the frost that binds¹³ the dead

    Ere midnight's frown and morning's smile ere thou and peace may meet.

    The cloud shadows of midnight possess their own repose¹⁴

    For the weary winds are silent or the moon is in the deep；

    Some respite¹⁵ to its turbulence¹⁶ unresting ocean knows；

    Whatever moves or toils¹⁷ or grieves hath its appointed sleep.

    Thou in the grave shalt rest：—yet till the phantoms¹⁸ flee

    Which that house and heath and garden made dear to thee erewhile

    Thy remembrance and repentance¹⁹ and deep musings are not free

    From the music of two voices and the light of one sweet smile.