THE LAST LEAF. LONE trembling one! Last of a summer race, withered and sear, Thou hast seen all The summer flowers reposing in their tomb, The voice of Spring, Which called thee into being, ne'er again nor the gentle Summer rain New verdure bring. The Zephyr's breath No more will wake for thee its melody - Yet a few days, A few faint struggles with the Autumn storm, Pale Autumn leaf! Thou art an emblem of mortality. The broken heart, once young and fresh like thee, Withered by grief, Whose leaves are fled, Whose loved ones all have drooped and died away, Still clings to life and lingering, loves to stay thy frail form trembles — it is past! And so art thou. TO A LADY, WITH A WITHERED LEAF. WHAT offering can the minstrel bring, Thou wouldst not prize the glittering gem, Thou wouldst but cast the pearl away; For thine is now a diadem, Of lustre brighter far than they. I will not bring the spring-tide flower, Its memory lives but for an hour I would not thine should be as brief. My heart! but that has long been thine'Twere but a worthless offering ; The ruin of a rifled shrine, A flower that fast is withering. My song! 'tis but a mournful strain, So deep in sorrow's mantle clad, E'en echo will not wake again The music of a strain so sad. A wither'd leaf!-- nay, scorn it not, It grew upon a hallow'd spot, And sacred is its memory. I pluck'd it from a lonely bough, That hung above my mother's grave, And felt, e'en then, that none but thou Could'st prize the gift affection gave. She faded with the flowers of spring, That o'er her lifeless form was cast, And when I pluck'd this faded thing, 'Twas the last one! - all - all were gone, They bloom'd not where the yew trees wave; This leaf and I were left alone, Pale watchers o'er my mother's grave. I mark'd it, when full oft I sought I loved it. for I fondly thought, It linger'd there to mourn with me! I've moisten'd it with many a tear, I've hallow'd it with many a prayer: And while this bursting heart was clear From guilt's dark stain, I shrined it there. Now, lady, now the gift is thine! And I will kneel and worship there! |