To Helene, On a Gift-ring carelessly lost
1795-1846
I SENT a ring--a little band
Of emerald and ruby stone,
And bade it, sparkling on thy hand,
Tell thee sweet tales of one
Whose constant memory
Was full of loveliness, and thee.
A shell was graven on its gold,--
'Twas Cupid fix'd without his wings--
To Helene once it would have told
More than was ever told by rings:
But now all 's past and gone,
Her love is buried with that stone.
Thou shalt not see the tears that start
From eyes by thoughts like these beguiled;
Thou shalt not know the beating heart,
Ever a victim and a child:
Yet Helene, love, believe
The heart that never could deceive.
I'll hear thy voice of melody
In the sweet whispers of the air;
I'll see the brightness of thine eye
In the blue evening's dewy star;
In crystal streams thy purity;
And look on Heaven to look on thee.
DayPoems Poem No. 593
<a href="http://www.daypoems.net/poems/593.html">To Helene, On a Gift-ring carelessly lost by George Darley</a>
The DayPoems Poetry Collection, www.daypoems.net
Timothy Bovee, editor
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