TO MRS. R.———1826.
Where is that smile of sparkling light
That played o'er thy fair brow?
The radiance of the heart's delight,—
In vain we seek it now.
That played o'er thy fair brow?
The radiance of the heart's delight,—
In vain we seek it now.
When life's bright morn unfolding bloomed,
Luxuriant to the view,
Then fancy every scene illumed,
With rapture ever new.
Luxuriant to the view,
Then fancy every scene illumed,
With rapture ever new.
While pure as morn's first orient dawn
Thy gentle virtues glowed,
And, soft as shades of eve advance,
Thy placid minutes flowed.
Thy gentle virtues glowed,
And, soft as shades of eve advance,
Thy placid minutes flowed.
Thy modest look and playful air
Of innocence and ease—
A winning native grace was there,
That taught each word to please.
Of innocence and ease—
A winning native grace was there,
That taught each word to please.
While the rich music of thy voice,
In soft endearing tone,
Could bid the care-worn heart rejoice,
And hope's sweet influence own.
In soft endearing tone,
Could bid the care-worn heart rejoice,
And hope's sweet influence own.
Those dark and beaming eyes confessed
The mind's refulgent power,
And placid joy, thy spirit's guest,
Gilded each passing hour.
The mind's refulgent power,
And placid joy, thy spirit's guest,
Gilded each passing hour.
Though fled the bright and transient gleam
Of beauty's early grace,
That, playing o'er each feature, beamed
With magic loveliness;—
Of beauty's early grace,
That, playing o'er each feature, beamed
With magic loveliness;—
Though dim the radiance of that glance,—
Its lambent brightness flown;—
Tho' changed the smile where pleasure danced,
Or mild contentment shone,—
Its lambent brightness flown;—
Tho' changed the smile where pleasure danced,
Or mild contentment shone,—
Far deeper thoughts and richer themes
Now shade that polished brow;
Maternal love's soft, gentle beams
O'er those fair features glow.
Now shade that polished brow;
Maternal love's soft, gentle beams
O'er those fair features glow.
And oft that pallid brow is pressed,
As anxious cares arise,
While, pillowed on thy gentle breast,
Thine infant placid lies;
As anxious cares arise,
While, pillowed on thy gentle breast,
Thine infant placid lies;
Or sports in pleasing playfulness,
Pure as the opening skies,—
And bright, with untold happiness,
Its pleasure-beaming eyes.
Pure as the opening skies,—
And bright, with untold happiness,
Its pleasure-beaming eyes.
While from the soul affection pure
Glows o'er that faded cheek,
And virtues, which the heart allure,
Thine aspect mild bespeak.
Glows o'er that faded cheek,
And virtues, which the heart allure,
Thine aspect mild bespeak.
Though fled the early grace which twined
Around that blooming form,
The virtues of the fadeless mind
Yield a diviner charm.
Around that blooming form,
The virtues of the fadeless mind
Yield a diviner charm.
Though cares which age alone can bring,
May those bright beauties shade,
Still in thy heart, affection's spring,
Are joys that never fade.
May those bright beauties shade,
Still in thy heart, affection's spring,
Are joys that never fade.
When thy loved infant's opening powers
Disclose the dawning mind,
What pleasure cheers the lonely hours,
With hope's bright garlands twined!
Disclose the dawning mind,
What pleasure cheers the lonely hours,
With hope's bright garlands twined!
And when its first soft accents breathed
Its uttered love to thee,
What visions thy fond fancy wreathed
Of peace and purity!
Its uttered love to thee,
What visions thy fond fancy wreathed
Of peace and purity!
Its blooming aspect bright with bliss,
The music of its voice,
The fragrance of its rosy kiss
A mother's heart rejoice.
The music of its voice,
The fragrance of its rosy kiss
A mother's heart rejoice.
A wayward tone, a want expressed,
Engage thy tender care,
And, soothed upon thy gentle breast,
It sweetly slumbers there.
Engage thy tender care,
And, soothed upon thy gentle breast,
It sweetly slumbers there.
Then those mild eyes with pleasure greet
Its precious little form,
And, gazing on its aspect sweet,
Observe each varying charm.
Its precious little form,
And, gazing on its aspect sweet,
Observe each varying charm.
The sire, with sweet affection mild,
Surveys the pleasing sight,
And gazes on his blooming child,
Rapt in a new delight:
Surveys the pleasing sight,
And gazes on his blooming child,
Rapt in a new delight:
His fancy paints its future form,
Its mind's expanded powers,
And, with parental ardor warm,
Gilds all its coming hours.
Its mind's expanded powers,
And, with parental ardor warm,
Gilds all its coming hours.
How pure the joys where hearts unite
And minds congenial join,—
In sweet affection's power delight,
And own its source divine!
And minds congenial join,—
In sweet affection's power delight,
And own its source divine!
Thus may thy moments sweetly flow
With him, thy chosen friend,
And both, with your loved offspring, know
The bliss that shall not end.
With him, thy chosen friend,
And both, with your loved offspring, know
The bliss that shall not end.