Remembrance

Remembrance

Cold in the earth – and the deep snow piled above thee,

Far, far removed, cold in the dreary grave!

Have I forgot, my only love, to love thee,

Severed at last by Time’s all – severing wave?

Now, when alone, do my thoughts no longer hover

Over the mountains, on that northern shore,

Resting their wings where heath and fern – leaves cover

That noble heart for ever, even more?

Cold in the earth, and fifteen wild Decembers

From those brown hills have melted into spring:

Faithful, indeed, is the spirit that remembers

After such years of change and suffering!

Sweet love of youth, forgive, if I forget thee

While the world’s tide is bearing me along:

Other desires and other hopes best me,

Hopes, which obscure, but cannot do thee wrong!

No later light has lightened up my heaven,

No second morn has ever shone for me

All my life’s bliss from thy dear life was given,

All my life’s bliss is in the grave with thee

But, when the days of golden dreams had perished

And even Despair was powerless to destroy

Then did I learn how existence could be cherished,

Strengthened, and fed without the aid of joy

Then did I check the tears of useless passion

Weaned my young soul from yearning after thine

Sternly denied its burning wish to hasten

Down to that tomb already more than mine

And, even yet, I dare not let it languish,

Dare not indulge in memory’s rapturous pain:

Once drinking deep of that divinest anguish

How could I seek the empty world again?

Emily Bronte (1818-1848)