In the dark, lonely night, <br />When sleep and silence keep their watch o'er men; <br />False love! in thy despite, <br />I will be with thee then. <br />When in the world of dreams thy spirit strays, <br />Seeking, in vain, the peace it finds not here, <br />Thou shalt be led back to thine early days <br />Of life and love, and I will meet thee there. <br />I'll come to thee, with the bright, sunny brow, <br />That was hope's throne before I met with thee: <br />And then I'll show thee how 'tis furrowed now, <br />By the untimely age of misery. <br />I'll speak to thee, in the fond, joyous tone, <br />That woo'd thee still with love's impassioned spell; <br />And then I'll teach thee how I've learnt to moan <br />Since last upon thine ear its accents fell. <br />I'll come to thee in all youth's brightest power, <br />As on the day thy faith to mine was plighted, <br />And then I'll tell thee weary hour by hour, <br />How that spring's early promise has been blighted. <br />I'll tell thee of the long, long, dreary years, <br />That have passed o'er me hopeless, objectless; <br />My loathsome days, my nights of burning tears, <br />My wild despair, my utter loneliness, <br />My heart-sick dreams upon my feverish bed, <br />My fearful longing to be with the dead; <br />In the dark lonely night, <br />When sleep and silence keep their watch o'er men, <br />False love! in thy despite, <br />We two shall meet again!<br /><br />Frances Anne Kemble<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-promise-35/
