Classic Poem

ADDRESSED TO LAURA

Oh, lovely Laura! may a youth,
Inspir'd by beauty, urg'd by truth,
Disclose the heart's alarms,
The fire in youthful blood that glows,
Th' impassion'd pang on love that grown,
And dare to sing thy charms!

Enough with war my lay has rung;
A softer theme awakes my tongue;
'Tis beauty's force divine;
Can I resist that air, that grace,
The charms of motion, figure, face?
For ev'ry charm is thine.

Of health, of youth, th' expanding flush,
Of virgin fear the flying blush,
Distain thy lily cheek:
The bee such nectar never sips,
As yields the rose-bud of thy lips,
Thy lips that sweetly speak.

'Tis thine the heaviest heart to cheer,
Those accents caught with eager ear,
So musically roll:
While swells the breast, the snow-white skin
Scarce hides the secret thoughts within,
Nor needs disguise that soul.

Where down thy waist, and o'er thy breast,
In light brown ringlets neatly drest,
Devolves thy beauteous hair:
Eager I gaze — and, gazing, dream
Of halcyon days; while on me beam
Those blue-eyes, mild and fair.

Unblam'd, oh let me gaze and gaze,
While love sick fancy fondly strays,
And feasts on many a kiss; —
For us let tides of rapture roll,
Thus intermingling soul with soul,
In ecstacies of bliss!