Author: Abijah M. Ide

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    In these rapid, restless shadows,
    Once I walked at eventide,
    When a gentle, silent maiden,
    Walked in beauty at my side
    She alone there walked beside me
    All in beauty, like a bride.

    Pallidly the moon was shining
    On the dewy meadows nigh;
    On the silvery, silent rivers,
    On the mountains far and high
    On the oceans star-lit waters,
    Where the winds a-weary die.

    Slowly, silently we wandered
    From the open cottage door,
    Underneath the elms long branches
    To the pavement bending oer;
    Underneath the mossy willow
    And the dying sycamore.

    With the myriad stars in beauty
    All bedight, the heavens were seen,
    Radiant hopes were bright around me,
    Like the light of stars serene;
    Like the mellow midnight splendor
    Of the Nights irradiate queen.

    Audibly the elm-leaves whispered
    Peaceful, pleasant melodies,
    Like the distant murmured music
    Of unquiet, lovely seas:
    While the winds were hushed in slumber
    In the fragrant flowers and trees.

    Wondrous and unwonted beauty
    Still adorning all did seem,
    While I told my love in fables
    Neath the willows by the stream;
    Would the heart have kept unspoken
    Love that was its rarest dream!

    Instantly away we wandered
    In the shadowy twilight tide,
    She, the silent, scornful maiden,
    Walking calmly at my side,
    With a step serene and stately,
    All in beauty, all in pride.

    Vacantly I walked beside her.
    On the earth mine eyes were cast;
    Swift and keen there came unto me
    Bitter memories of the past
    On me, like the rain in Autumn
    On the dead leaves, cold and fast.

    Underneath the elms we parted,
    By the lowly cottage door;
    One brief word alone was uttered
    Never on our lips before;
    And away I walked forlornly,
    Broken-hearted evermore.

    Slowly, silently I loitered,
    Homeward, in the night, alone;
    Sudden anguish bound my spirit,
    That my youth had never known;
    Wild unrest, like that which cometh
    When the Nights first dream hath flown.

    Now, to me the elm-leaves whisper
    Mad, discordant melodies,
    And keen melodies like shadows
    Haunt the moaning willow trees,
    And the sycamores with laughter
    Mock me in the nightly breeze.

    Sad and pale the Autumn moonlight
    Through the sighing foliage streams;
    And each morning, midnight shadow,
    Shadow of my sorrow seems;
    Strive, O heart, forget thine idol!
    And, O soul, forget thy dreams!

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Type of Poem: Narrative Poem

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem offers an exploration of themes such as love, loss, memory, and the passage of time. The narrative structure is linear, recounting a walk with a "gentle, silent maiden," through the evolving emotional aftermath of their parting. This progression is enhanced by a shift in tone, moving from the tranquility of the initial stanzas, to the bitter regret and sorrow of the latter verses.

The poem is rich in natural imagery, with the outdoor setting playing a significant role in reflecting the speaker's emotions. The moon, stars, rivers, and trees are not merely background elements, but actors in the narrative, their changes mirroring the speaker's emotional journey. The poem employs personification effectively, with elements like the whispering elm-leaves or the laughing sycamores heightening the emotional resonance.

The rhythm and rhyme scheme of the poem lend a musical quality to the verses, which, coupled with the vivid imagery, creates a sensory experience for the reader. The use of repetition, particularly in the phrases "all in beauty" and "slowly, silently" contribute to the poem's rhythm and emphasize key aspects of the narrative.

The poem serves as a poignant exploration of unrequited love and the haunting power of memory – the speaker's intense emotions are made palpable to the reader through the vivid natural imagery and the emotive language used. The last stanza concludes the work with an exhortation to the speaker's heart and soul to forget, suggesting a struggle to move on from past heartbreak and dreams.