The sun is banished, <br />The daylight vanished, <br />No rosy traces <br />Are left behind. <br />Here in the meadow <br />I watch the shadow <br />Of forms and faces <br />Upon your blind. <br /> <br />Through swift transitions, <br />In new positions, <br />My eyes still follow <br />One shape most fair. <br />My heart delaying <br />Awhile, is playing <br />With pleasures hollow, <br />Which mock despair. <br /> <br />I feel so lonely, <br />I long once only <br />To pass an hour <br />With you, O sweet! <br />To touch your fingers, <br />Where fragrance lingers <br />From some rare flower, <br />And kiss your feet. <br /> <br />But not this even <br />To me is given. <br />Of all sad mortals <br />Most sad am I, <br />Never to meet you, <br />Never to greet you, <br />Nor pass your portals <br />Before I die. <br /> <br />All men scorn me, <br />Not one will mourn me, <br />When from their city <br />I pass away. <br />Will you to-morrow <br />Recall with sorrow <br />Him whom with pity <br />You saw to-day? <br /> <br />Outcast and lonely, <br />One thing only <br />Beyond misgiving <br />I hold for true, <br />That, had you known me, <br />You would have shown me <br />A life worth living - <br />A life for you. <br /> <br />Yes: five years younger <br />My manhood's hunger <br />Had you come filling <br />With plenty sweet, <br />My life so nourished, <br />Had grown and flourished, <br />Had God been willing <br />That we should meet. <br /> <br />How vain to fashion <br />From dreams and passion <br />The rich existence <br />Which might have been! <br />Can God's own power <br />Recall the hour, <br />Or bridge the distance <br />That lies between? <br /> <br />Before the morning, <br />From pain and scorning <br />I sail death's river <br />To sleep or hell. <br />To you is given <br />The life of heaven. <br />Farewell for ever, <br />Farewell, farewell!<br /><br />Robert Fuller Murray<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-outcast-s-farewell/
