Poems (Welby)/The Sleeping Maiden

4491095Poems — The Sleeping MaidenAmelia Welby
THE SLEEPING MAIDEN.
Bright as the spell of loveliness, Cast round thee, maiden, here, Are the sweet dreams, that angels now Are whispering in thy ear; Yes, very bright and very sweet Those dreamings all must be,Or else they would not flit around A creature fair as thee.
O! beautiful indeed thou art As some pure spirit blest,With thy gold tresses gleaming soft,Like sunbeams, o'er thy breast; And thy rose-tinted cheek, now bright As the first blush of day,Now faint as if a zephyr's sigh Could brush its bloom away—
And thy bright glances, gathered all Beneath each snowy lid,That, silken-fringed, rests lightly o'er The beauty they have hid, Giving unto thy lovely face A pensive twilight ray, Like that, which tints the summer sky When sunbeams fade away.
Sweetly from thy deep dreaming breast, Thy thoughts are gushing now, Like perfume up to Him, who threw Such beauty o'er thy brow; Thoughts, lovelier, holier far than those That haunt thy waking hours,And fresh as dew-drops on the leaves Of odor-breathing flowers.
I would that thou should'st ever be Thus free from weary care,That thy young brow its holy calm On earth may ever wear,But, as such perfect happiness To mortals is not given, I'd have thee dream thy life away, And only wake in heaven.