Blair Collection > Poems and songs

36 GAELIC AND ENGLISH POEMS.
But, ah ! fair maiden, as T upward glance
Towards yon beautiful blue starry dome,
And think that we can live our lives but once,
I fain would keep thee treasured in thine home ;
The world's tovich upon thee lighter than foam
That leaves no impress on the silvery tide ;
Thy pure afiections filling a circuit wide ;
Thine heart from its true pole-star ne'er to roam
Pouring thy spikenard on His blessed head,
Whose wounds to wash thee have so freely bled.
THE OLD MAN TO HIS FIE ST LOVE.
Oh, when the day of passion 's fled,
And softly by life's gliding river
We gather flowers to grace our dead,
From all but mem'ry gone for ever,
The fairest wreaths I'll daily twine
Of every tender leaf and blossom
To lay upon the hidden shrine,
Still sacred to thee in my bosom.
Though life's bright noon hath passed away.
With all its tales of love unspoken.
My beauteous rosebud, 'neath its ray.
Untimely fallen, crushed, and broken,
I'll keep its seared and withered leaves.
And find in them as pure a pleasure
As doth the farmer in his sheav^es —
The generous autumn's golden treasure.
Thy love has kept me oft from ill,
When I afar in youth went roaming,
And thy sweet power is on me still.
When walking softly through life's gleaming
Thy mem'ry kept my spirit young.
For still I felt I was thy lover ;
And how could I, sweet, e'er do wrong.
Believing thou didst near me hover 1