So long it seems since last I saw her face,
So long ago it seems,
Like some sad soul, in unconjectured space,
Lost in the happiness of some dead grace
Remembered — I. And, oh! a little while
The sorrow stabs and Death conceals no smile
From Love bowed weeping in a thorny place —
So long ago, our love is what are dreams!
Since she is gone no more I feel the light,
Since she is gone beyond,
Burst like a revelation out of night,—
Golden convictions of far futures bright,—
Whiles clouds around the west take marble tones;
For Hope sits sighing in a place of stones,
Dark locks dishevelled and face very white,—
Since she is gone and life's an iron bond.
Now she is dead the doubt Love dulled with awe,
Now she is dead to me,
Questions the wisdom of diviner law.
Self-solved of self I search to find a flaw —
O egotism of Earth's fools and slaves!—
For Faith leans thoughtful in a place of graves,
On that unseen from this seen known to draw,
Now she is dead and it is hard to see.