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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
COME BACK, by HENRY WILLIAM HERBERT Poet's Biography Last Line: Whose strength but waits to fold thee home. Alternate Author Name(s): Forester, Frank | |||
COME back and bring my life again That went with thee beyond my will! Restore me that which makes me man Or leaves me wretched, dead and chill! Thy presence was of life a part; Thine absence leaves the blank of death. They wait thy presence -- eye and heart, With straining gaze and bated breath. The light is darkness, if thine eyes Make not the medium of its ray; I see no star in evening skies, Save thou look up and point the way. Nor bursting buds in May's young bloom, Nor sunshine rippling o'er the sea, Bears up to heaven my heart's perfume Save thou my monitor can be. There are two paths for human feet, -- One bordered by a duty plain, And one by phantoms cursed, yet sweet, Bewildering heart and maddening brain; The one will right and reason urge, But thou must walk beside me there, Or else I tread the dizzy verge, And thou some guilt of loss must bear. Come back, there is no cause on earth, -- No word of shame, no deed of wrong -- Can bury all of truth and worth, And sunder bonds once firm and strong. There is no duty, heaven-imposed, That, velvet-gloved -- an iron band Upon my heart-strings crushed and closed -- Thy hate should all my love withstand. Days seem like ages -- and, ere long, On senseless ears the cry may fall; Or, stilled by bitter shame and wrong, The pleading voice may cease to call. Come back! before the eyes grow dim That keep but sight to see thee come, Ere fail and falter hand and limb, Whose strength but waits to fold thee home. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SAVING WAY by HAYDEN CARRUTH COMPANIONS by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON PENDULUM by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON ON VIOLET'S WAFERS, SENT ME WHEN I WAS ILL by SIDNEY LANIER CINQUAIN: NOVEMBER NIGHT by ADELAIDE CRAPSEY THE MESSAGES by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON THE TRIUMPH OF LIFE by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY |
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