Читать книгу The Complete Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell - James Russell Lowell - Страница 7

Gone, gone from us! and shall we see

Those sibyl-leaves of destiny,

Those calm eyes, nevermore?

Those deep, dark eyes so warm and bright,

Wherein the fortunes of the man

Lay slumbering in prophetic light,

In characters a child might scan?

So bright, and gone forth utterly!

Oh stern word—Nevermore!

The stars of those two gentle eyes 10

Will shine no more on earth;

Quenched are the hopes that had their birth,

As we watched them slowly rise,

Stars of a mother's fate;

And she would read them o'er and o'er,

Pondering, as she sate,

Over their dear astrology,

Which she had conned and conned before,

Deeming she needs must read aright 19

What was writ so passing bright.

And yet, alas! she knew not why.

Her voice would falter in its song,

And tears would slide from out her eye,

Silent, as they were doing wrong.

Oh stern word—Nevermore!

The tongue that scarce had learned to claim

An entrance to a mother's heart

By that dear talisman, a mother's name,

Sleeps all forgetful of its art!

I loved to see the infant soul 30

(How mighty in the weakness

Of its untutored meekness!)

Peep timidly from out its nest,

His lips, the while,

Fluttering with half-fledged words,

Or hushing to a smile

That more than words expressed,

When his glad mother on him stole

And snatched him to her breast!

Oh, thoughts were brooding in those eyes, 40

That would have soared like strong-winged birds

Far, far into the skies,

Gladding the earth with song,

And gushing harmonies,

Had he but tarried with us long!

Oh stern word—Nevermore!

How peacefully they rest,

Crossfolded there

Upon his little breast,

Those small, white hands that ne'er were still before, 50

But ever sported with his mother's hair,

Or the plain cross that on her breast she wore!

Her heart no more will beat

To feel the touch of that soft palm,

That ever seemed a new surprise

Sending glad thoughts up to her eyes

To bless him with their holy calm—

Sweet thoughts! they made her eyes as sweet.

How quiet are the hands

That wove those pleasant bands!

But that they do not rise and sink 61

With his calm breathing, I should think

That he were dropped asleep.

Alas! too deep, too deep

Is this his slumber!

Time scarce can number

The years ere he shall wake again.

Oh, may we see his eyelids open then!

Oh stern word—Nevermore!

As the airy gossamere, 70

Floating in the sunlight clear,

Where'er it toucheth clingeth tightly,

Bound glossy leal or stump unsightly,

So from his spirit wandered out

Tendrils spreading all about,

Knitting all things to its thrall

With a perfect love of all:

Oh stern word—Nevermore!

He did but float a little way

Adown the stream of time, 80

With dreamy eyes watching the ripples play,

Or hearkening their fairy chime;

His slender sail

Ne'er felt the gale;

He did but float a little way,

And, putting to the shore

While yet 't was early day,

Went calmly on his way,

To dwell with us no more!

No jarring did he feel, 90

No grating on his shallop's keel;

A strip of silver sand

Mingled the waters with the land

Where he was seen no more:

Oh stern word—Nevermore!

Full short his journey was; no dust

Of earth unto his sandals clave;

The weary weight that old men must,

He bore not to the grave.

He seemed a cherub who had lost his way 100

And wandered hither, so his stay

With us was short, and 't was most meet

That he should be no delver in earth's clod,

Nor need to pause and cleanse his feet

To stand before his God:

Oh blest word—Evermore!