Landon in The Literary Gazette 1827/Willow Leaves
The Literary Gazette, 27th January 1827, page 59
ORIGINAL POETRY.
WILLOW LEAVES.
Translation of Les Feuilles de Saule. Par
Mde. Aimable Tastu.
"Un jour je m’étais amusé à effeuiller une branche de
saule sur un ruisseau, et à attacher une idée à chaque
feuille, que le courant entrainait."— Chateaubriand.
The hour was fair, but Autumn's dying
Was upon leaf, and flower, and tree;
The sunshine with the season flying,
As I could feel my life from me.
Beside an aged trunk reclining,
All other darker days forgot,
The leaves fell, and the waves went pining,—
Lost in my dreams, I marked them not.
From the old willow o'er me bending,
My hand, unconscious, stripp'd a bough,
Then watch'd I the light leaves descending,
Borne on by the blue current's flow.
Idlesse it hath the vaguest dreaming,—
From their course sought I to divine;
And mid those o'er the waters streaming
Chose I one for my fortune's sign.
Skiff-like it flow'd with peace before it,
Till choice of mine upon it fell,—
Then rudely prest the wild waves o'er it—
It sank: I chose mine emblem well!
Another leaf! to some hope clinging,
A miracle might guard its way;
‘Twas my lute's fate—the wind past, flinging
My oracle, my hope away.
To the wave where my fortunes leave me
My genius passes with the gale:
Shall I trust to it, to bereave me
Of dearer vow?—my spirits fail.
E’en while at its own weakness blushing,
My sick heart sinks beneath its fear;
That heart is weak, and dark clouds rushing,
Are all its omens bid appear.
Down from my hand the green bough falling,
I leave the willow and the stream;
Yet still their omens drear recalling,
Those prophet leaves haunt midnight's dream.
L. E. L.