When the prime mover of my many sighs <br />Heaven took through death from out her earthly place, <br />Nature, that never made so fair a face, <br />Remained ashamed, and tears were in all eyes. <br />O fate, unheeding my impassioned cries! <br />O hopes fallacious! O thou spirit of grace, <br />Where art thou now? Earth holds in its embrace <br />Thy lovely limbs, thy holy thoughts the skies. <br />Vainly did cruel death attempt to stay <br />The rumor of thy virtuous renown, <br />That Lethe's waters could not wash away! <br />A thousand leaves, since he hath stricken thee down, <br />Speak of thee, nor to thee could Heaven convey, <br />Except through death, a refuge and a crown.<br /><br />Henry Wadsworth Longfellow<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-vittoria-colonna-sonnet-vi/
