To Helen
I saw thee once — once only — years ago:I must not say how many — but not many.It was a July midnight; and from outA full-orbed moon, that, like thine own soul, soaring,Sought a precipitant pathway up through heaven,There fell a silvery-silken veil of light,With quietude, and sultriness, and slumber,Upon the upturn’d faces of a thousandRoses that grew in an enchanted garden,Where no wind dared to stir, unless on tip-toe —Fell on the upturn’d faces of these rosesThat gave out, in return for the love-light,Their odorous souls in an ecstatic death —Fell ...
The Poe Museum Blog
Lines Written in an Album
Lines Written in an Album
Eliza! — let thy generous heartFrom its present pathway part not!Being every thing which now thou art,Be nothing which thou art not.So with the world thy gentle ways —Thy unassuming beauty —And truth shall be a theme of praiseForever — and love a duty.
E. A. P.
Edgar Allan Poe
Originally Published in 1835 ...
To —— (Song)
To —— (Song)
I saw thee on the bridal day;When a burning blush came o’er thee,Tho’ Happiness around thee lay,The world all love before thee.
And, in thine eye, the kindling lightOf young passion freeWas all on earth, my chain’d sightOf Loveliness might see.
That blush, I ween, was maiden shame:As such it well may pass:Tho’ its glow hath rais’d a fiercer flameIn the breast of him, alas! Who saw thee on that bridal day,When that deep blush would come o’er thee, —Tho’ Happiness around thee lay;The world all Love before thee. —
Edgar Allan Poe
Originally Published in 1827 ...
To — — [Violet Vane]
To —— [Violet Vane]
I would not lord it o’er thy heart,Alas! I cannot rule my own,Nor would I rob one loyal thought,From him who there should reign alone;We both have found a life-long love;Wherein our weary souls may rest,Yet may we not, my gentle friendBe each to each the second best?
A love which shall be passion-free,Fondness as pure as it is sweet,A bond where all the dearest tiesOf brother, friend and cousin meet, —Such is the union I would frame,That thus we might be doubly blest,With Love to rule our hearts supremeAnd friendship to be second ...