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THE SISTERS OF SCIO, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Sister, sweet sister! Let me weep awhile!
Last Line: "our path is one -- with thee I live and die!"
Alternate Author Name(s): Browne, Felicia Dorothea
Subject(s): Love; Sisters


"SISTER, sweet sister! let me weep awhile!
Bear with me -- give the sudden passion way!
Thoughts of our own lost home, our sunny isle,
Come, as a wind that o'er a reed hath sway;
Till my heart dies with yearnings and sick fears!
Oh! could my life melt from me in these tears!

"Our father's voice, our mother's gentle eye,
Our brother's bounding step -- where are they, where?
Desolate, desolate our chambers lie!
How hast thou won thy spirit from despair?
O'er mine swift shadows, gusts of terror, sweep; --
I sink away -- bear with me -- let me weep!"

"Yes! weep, my sister! weep, till from thy heart
The weight flow forth in tears! yet sink thou not;
I bind my sorrow to a lofty part,
For thee, my gentle one! our orphan lot
To meet in quenchless trust; my soul is strong --
Thou, too, wilt rise in holy might ere long.

"A breath of our free heavens and noble sires,
A memory of our old victorious dead, --
These mantle me with power! and though their fires
In a frail censer briefly may be shed,
Yet shall they light us onward, side by side;
Have the wild birds, and have not we, a guide?

"Cheer, then, beloved! on whose meek brow is set
Our mother's image -- in whose voice a tone,
A faint sweet sound of hers is lingering yet,
An echo of our childhood's music gone; --
Cheer thee! thy sister's heart and faith are high;
Our path is one -- with thee I live and die!"





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