The sun is banished, br The daylight vanished, br No rosy traces br Are left behind. br Here in the meadow br I watch the shadow br Of forms and faces br Upon your blind. br br Through swift transitions, br In new positions, br My eyes still follow br One shape most fair. br My heart delaying br Awhile, is playing br With pleasures hollow, br Which mock despair. br br I feel so lonely, br I long once only br To pass an hour br With you, O sweet! br To touch your fingers, br Where fragrance lingers br From some rare flower, br And kiss your feet. br br But not this even br To me is given. br Of all sad mortals br Most sad am I, br Never to meet you, br Never to greet you, br Nor pass your portals br Before I die. br br All men scorn me, br Not one will mourn me, br When from their city br I pass away. br Will you to-morrow br Recall with sorrow br Him whom with pity br You saw to-day? br br Outcast and lonely, br One thing only br Beyond misgiving br I hold for true, br That, had you known me, br You would have shown me br A life worth living - br A life for you. br br Yes: five years younger br My manhood's hunger br Had you come filling br With plenty sweet, br My life so nourished, br Had grown and flourished, br Had God been willing br That we should meet. br br How vain to fashion br From dreams and passion br The rich existence br Which might have been! br Can God's own power br Recall the hour, br Or bridge the distance br That lies between? br br Before the morning, br From pain and scorning br I sail death's river br To sleep or hell. br To you is given br The life of heaven.