Poems (Chitwood)/To an Absent One

TO AN ABSENT ONE.

Three times the flowers of early Spring
Have blossomed in the leafy woods;
Three times the swallow's weary wing
Has fluttered o'er the Ocean's floods;
Three times the streams with gladsome sighs
Have broken from their wintry chains,
Mirrored the violet's azure eyes,
And kissed the grassy meadow plains.

Three times the golden harvest hath
By busy hands been gathered in;
Three times adown the forest's path
The Autumn's step hath sadly been,—
Since last I saw thy form depart,
Since last I felt thy clasping hands,
And, with a sad, foreboding heart
Beheld thee start for distant lands

Where art thou? Can no echo bring
An answer to this asking heart,
To tell thy place of wandering?
Tell me, O lost one, where thou art?
Can no winged messenger of air
Bring back an olive branch of peace
To hush these waves of deep despair—
To bid these murmuring heart-throbs cease?

Can nothing bring my soul the rest
That once it knew ere far from thee?
Or hush these fears within my breast
That tremble like the aspen tree?
I've watched for thee when morning's light
Wag stealing o'er the distant hill,
And oft the solemn stars of night,
Have found me at my vigil still.

My soul is sick with doubts and fears;
A shadow lies upon my heart;
Oh! three long years—three weary years—
Have kept us, absent one, apart.
Yet what is past I now can bear;
But that to come I can not know;
'Tis this that makes my deep despair—
'Tis this that fills my heart with wo.

If I but knew that thou art clay,
And done for aye with care and strife;
But this suspense will wear away,
Slowly, but sure, the chords of life.
For three long years—for three long years—
I've watched for thee with sad regret,
If thou art in this "vale of tears,"
Return to those who love thee vet.