THE SEA OF DEATH. A FRAGMENT. Methought I saw Life swiftly treading over endless space; Sad were my thoughts that anchor'd silently Like a gorged sea-bird, slept with folded wings On crowded carcases sad passive things That wore the thin grey surface, like a veil Over the calmness of their features pale. And there were spring-faced cherubs that did sleep Like water-lilies on that motionless deep, How beautiful! with bright unruffled hair And smile-bedimpled cheeks, and pleasant lips, Spake out in dreams of its own innocence : And so they lay in loveliness, and kept The birth-night of their peace, that Life e'en wept With very envy of their happy fronts; For there were neighbour brows scarr'd by the brunts Of strife and sorrowing where Care had set His crooked autograph, and marr'd the jet Of glossy locks, with hollow eyes forlorn, And lips that curl'd in bitterness and scorn Wretched, as they had breathed of this world's pain, And so bequeath'd it to the world again Through the beholder's heart in heavy sighs. So lay they garmented in torpid light, Like solemn apparitions lull'd sublime Of a dark dial in a sunless place. BALLAD. SHE'S up and gone, the graceless Girl! My blood before was thin and cold My shadow falls upon my grave, She might have staid a little yet, Aye, call her on the barren moor, 'Tis nothing but the heron's cry, My child is flown on wilder wings, That widen'd when she fled. Full many a thankless child has been, But never one like mine; Her meat was served on plates of gold, Her drink was rosy wine; But now she'll share the robin's food, And sup the common rill, Before her feet will turn again To meet her father's will! I REMEMBER, I REMEMBER. I. I remember, I remember, The house where I was born, The little window where the sun Came peeping in at morn; He never came a wink too soon, Nor brought too long a day, But now, I often wish the night Had borne my breath away! II. I remember, I remember, The roses, red and white, The vi'lets, and the lily-cups, Those flowers made of light! The lilacs where the robin built, |