To Marie Louise (Shew)

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To Marie Louise (Shew)

Of all who hail thy presence as the morningвБ†вАФ

Of all to whom thine absence is the nightвБ†вАФ

The blotting utterly from out high heaven

The sacred sunвБ†вАФof all who, weeping, bless thee

Hourly for hopeвБ†вАФfor lifeвБ†вАФah, above all,

For the resurrection of deep buried faith

In truth, in virtue, in humanityвБ†вАФ

Of all who, on despairвАЩs unhallowed bed

Lying down to die, have suddenly arisen

At thy soft-murmured words, вАЬLet there be light!вАЭ

At the soft-murmured words that were fulfilled

In the seraphic glancing of thine eyesвБ†вАФ

Of all who owe thee most, whose gratitude

Nearest resembles worshipвБ†вАФoh, remember

The truest, the most fervently devoted,

And think that these weak lines are written by himвБ†вАФ

By him who, as he pens them, thrills to think

His spirit is communing with an angelвАЩs.