The Rhode Island Republican

POETRY.

FROM THE GEORGIAN.

I saw her when her cheek was bright,
And beautiful, and fair,
Love, joy, and all that wins delight,
Which chains the heart or glads the sight,
Seemed met together there--
The glow, the glance, from cheek and eye,
Her hair of curling jet;
The look, the smile, a stifled sigh,
Her forehead arched and white and high--
Methinks I see them yet.

I saw her, on her bridal day
With hope upon her brow;
Her smile, her blush, was brightly gay,
And joy with his eternal ray,
Was there to gild her vow.
The jest, the laugh, the social cheer,
All bitterness forbid :
Her heart was light, her cheek was clear,
And dark and long the lashes were,
Which fringed her fallen lid.

I saw her, when her cheek was wan,
Her eye looked dim and dead,
Her charms had faded one by one,
Her heart was bleached, her smile was gone,
Her every beauty fled.
She bowed beneath the misery,
Which hearts corroded know.
Her face had lost its gladd'ning glee,
And sadly calm she seemed to me,
A monument of woe.

I saw her, in her winding sheet,
A senseless thing of earth,
An aged form was at her feet,
Her countenance with grief replete,
'Twas her who gave her birth;
Another in a secret place,
From all the throng apart,
Was seen to gaze upon her face,
Which smiling lay in death's embrace,
'Twas he who broke her heart.