To Marie Louise (Shew)

Of all who hail thy presence as the morning —

Of all to whom thine absence is the night —

The blotting utterly from out high heaven

The sacred sun — of all who, weeping, bless thee

Hourly for hope — for life — ah, above all,

For the resurrection of deep buried faith

In truth, in virtue, in humanity —

Of all who, on despair's unhallowed bed

Lying down to die, have suddenly arisen

At thy soft-murmured words, "Let there be light!"

At thy soft-murmured words that were fulfilled

In thy seraphic glancing of thine eyes —

Of all who owe thee most, whose gratitude

Nearest resembles worship, — oh, remember

The truest, the most fervently devoted,

And think that these weak lines are written by him —

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

His spirit is communing with an angel's.