Landon in The Literary Gazette 1825/Poetic 5 1
Literary Gazette, 17th December, 1825, Page 812
ORIGINAL POETRY.
POETIC FRAGMENTS.—FIFTH SERIES.
----I have a gush
Of wild and passionate thoughts upon my heart,
For which words have no sound; and can it be
That these fine impulses, these lovely dreams,
Burning with their own beauty, are but given
To make me the low slave of vanity!
Heartless and humbled, oh! my own sweet power,
Surely thy songs were made for more than this!
What a worst waste of feeling and of life
Have been the imprints on my roll of time—
Too long, too much! To what use have I turned
The golden gifts, in which I pride myself?
They are profaned;—with their pure ore I've made
An idol, whose sway is but in the breath
Of passing worshippers. Alas! that ever
Praise should have been what it has been to me!
The opiate of my heart, which has annulled
The happiness that sought but for itself.
It is in vain; the wretchedness that clings
Upon me like a curse, is in myself.
Spirit of Fame, what hast thou been to me,
But the destroyer of life's calm content?
I feel so more than ever, now thy power
Is weakened over me: once I could find
A deep and dangerous delight in thee;
But that is over. I am too much awake;
Light—but not morning's light, has burst upon me;
Such light as will burst in upon the tomb
When all but judgment's over. Oh! my heart.
My once sweet Paradise of hope and thought,
How changed thou art! What is the gift of mind
But as a barrier to so much that makes
Our life endurable, companionship,
Meeker affections, calm and gentle thoughts,
Till the vexed spirit seals with discontent,
A league of sorrow and of vanity,
Built on that future which will never be.
I would resign the words of praise which now
Make my cheek crimson and my pulses beat,
Could I but deem that when my heart is cold
And my lip passionless, my songs would be
Numbered 'mid the young minstrels' first delights,
And murmured by the lover when his suit
Calls upon poetry to breathe of love.L. E. L.