Landon in The Literary Gazette 1821/Apologue
Literary Gazette, 11th August 1821, page 509
ORIGINAL POETRY.
APOLOGUE.
The thought suggested by a Spanish saying.
"AIR—FIRE—WATER—SHAME."
WATER.
Seek for me in the Arab maid's bower,
Where the fountain plays over the jasmine flower;
Seek for me in the light cascade,
The minstrel lists in the green-wood shade;
Seek me at morn 'mid the violet's dyes;
Seek me where rainbows paint April skies;
In the blue rush of rivers, the depths of the sea,
If we should sever, there seek for me.
FIRE.
Seek for me where the war-shots meet,
Where the soldier's cloak is his winding-sheet;
Seek for me where the lava wave,
Bursts from Etna's secret cave;
Seek for me where Christmas mirth
Brightens the circle of love round your hearth;
Where meteor-flames glance, where the stars are bright,
Where the beacon flashes at the dead midnight;
Where the lightning scathes the tall oak tree,
If we should sever, there seek for me.
AIR.
Seek for me where the Spanish maid
Hearkens at eve to the serenade;
Seek for me where the clouds are dark,
Where the billows foam round the sinking bark;
Where the aspen leaf floats on the summer's gale,
Where the rose bends low at the nightingale's tale;
Where the wind-harp wakens in melody,
If we should sever, there seek for me.
SHAME.
Seek not me, if we should sever,
Parted once, we part for ever.