Page:The Poets and Poetry of the West.djvu/206

li)0 FREDERICK W. THOMAS. [1830-40. Then, when he knows nor land nor main, And darkly is his frail bark toss'd, He courts the separate star in vain, And mourns the Pleiad lost. 'TIS SAID THAT ABSENCE CONQUERS LOVE. 'Tis said that absence conquers love ! But, oh ! believe it not ; I've tried, alas ! its power to prove, But thou art not forgot. Lady, though fate has bid us part, Yet still thou art as dear — As fixed in this devoted heart As when I clasp'd thee hei'e. I plunge into the busy crowd, And smile to hear thy name ; And yet, as if I thought aloud. They know me still the same; And when the wine-cup passes round, I toast some other Fair ; — But when I ask ray heart the sound, Tiiy name is echoed there. And when some other name I learn. And try to whisper love, Still will my heart to thee return. Like the returning dove. In vain ! I never can forget, And would not be forgot ; For I must bear the same regret, Whate'er may be my lot. E'en as the wounded bird will seek Its favorite bower to die, So, Indy ! I would hear thee speak, And yield my parting sigh. 'Tis said that absence conquers love ! But, oh ! believe it not ; I've tried, alas ! its power to prove. But thou art not forsjot. WHEN THOU WERT TRUE. "When thou wert true, when thou wert true. My heart did thy impression take. As do the depths, when skies are blue, Of some wood-girt and quiet lake : The image of the moon, which gives The calmness in whose light she lives. But when doubt came, my troubled breast Was like that lake when rude winds blow; Her image then, though still impress'd. Beams brokenly, in ebb and flow. Until the storm obscures her light. And reigns the ebon-visaged night. Again that changing moon will shine, When stoi'ms are o'er, within the lake. Which, like that wayward heart of thine. Can any other image take. Mine, graven like memorial stone, Is now a memory alone. THY PORTRAIT. I've hung thy portrait on my wall. And, as I move about my room. Still will thy bright eyes on me fall. And seem to light the gloom. Thus is thy gentle spirit's spell Upon me wheresoe'er I rove. And thus beneath it do I dwell With an adorin"; love. United hearts have made United States ! What could a single, separate State have done Without the arms of her confederates ? They stand united, but divided fall — 'Twas Union that gave Liberty to all.