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DESTINY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: There was a star that lit my life
Last Line: Than love, and yet despair.
Alternate Author Name(s): Speranza; Elgee, Jane Francesca; Wilde, William Robert Wills, Mrs.


I.

THERE was a star that lit my life --
It hath set to rise no more,
For Heaven, in mercy, withdrew the light
I fain would have knelt before.



II.

There was a flower I pluck'd in my dreams,
Fragrant and fair to see;
Oh, would I had never awoke and found
Such bloom not here for me.



III.

There was a harp, whose magic tone,
Echoed my faintest words --
But Destiny's hand, with a ruthless touch,
Hath rent the golden chords.



IV.

There was a path like Eden's vale,
In which I was spell'd to stray,
But Destiny rose with a flaming sword
To guard that path alway.



V.

I've looked on eyes were like the star --
Their light is quench'd for me;
And a soul I have known like the golden harp
That breath'd but melody.



VI.

And moments bright as that dream-land
Where bloomed the radiant flower.
Oh! would I had died ere I felt the gloom
Of this dark, joyless hour.



VII.

Fatal the time I rais'd mine eyes
To eyes whose light hath blasted --
Yet ere I could turn from their glance away,
Life had with gazing wasted.



VIII.

Bitter the thought that years may pass --
Yet thus it must be ever,
To look on thy form, to hear thy voice --
But nearer -- never, never.



IX.

Could I but love as I love the stars,
Or the gush of the twilight breeze,
Or the pale light of the wandering moon
Glancing through forest trees;



X.

With a sinless, calm, untroubled love,
Look upwards and adore --
Could I but thus gaze life away,
Without the wish to soar.



XI.

In vain! in vain! I hope, I weep,
I kneel the long nights in prayer --
Oh! better to die in the noon of life,
Than love, and yet despair.







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