Felicia Hemans

“ Can thy heart roam?
Wilt thou not pine to hear
Voices from Home?
"Too sad our love would be,
If thou wert gone!
Turn to us, leave us not!
Thou art our own!"
"Oh sister! thou hast won me back!—too many fond thoughts lie
In every soft, spring-breathing tone of that old melody!
I cannot, cannot leave thee now! ev'n though my grief should fall
As a shadow o'er the pageantries that crowd our ancient hall!
But take me, clasp me to thine arms—I will not mourn my lot,
Whilst love like thine remains on earth—I leave, I leave thee not!" ”

“ A song we heard in childhood's days, ev'n from our father's knee!
Oh! listen, listen! are those notes amidst forgotten things?
Do they not linger, as in love, on the familiar strings?
Seems not our sainted mother's voice to murmur in the strain? ”

“ How could I bear a lonely heart amidst a reckless throng?
I should but miss Earth's dearest voice in every tone of song!
Keep, keep the braid of Eastern pearl! or let me proudly twine
Its wreath once more around that brow, that queenly brow of thine!"
"Oh! wouldst thou seek a wounded bird from shelter to detain? ”