The Hour when we Shall Meet Again
Composed during Illness, and in Absence.- 1Dim Hour! that sleep'st on pillowing clouds afar,
- 2O rise and yoke the Turtles to thy car!
- 3Bend o'er the traces, blame each lingering Dove,
- 4And give me to the bosom of my Love!
- 5My gentle Love, caressing and carest,
- 6With heaving heart shall cradle me to rest!
- 7Shed the warm tear-drop from her smiling eyes,
- 8Lull with fond woe, and medicine me with sighs!
- 9While finely-flushing float her kisses meek,
- 10Like melted rubies, o'er my pallid cheek.
- 11Chill'd by the night, the drooping Rose of May
- 12Mourns the long absence of the lovely Day;
- 13Young Day returning at her promis'd hour
- 14Weeps o'er the sorrows of her favourite Flower;
- 15Weeps the soft dew, the balmy gale she sighs,
- 16And darts a trembling lustre from her eyes.
- 17New life and joy th' expanding flow'ret feels:
- 18His pitying Mistress mourns, and mourning heals!