To Marie Louise (Shew)

Of all who hail thy presence as the morning⁠—
Of all to whom thine absence is the night⁠—
The blotting utterly from out high heaven
The sacred sun⁠—of all who, weeping, bless thee
Hourly for hope⁠—for life⁠—ah, above all,
For the resurrection of deep buried faith
In truth, in virtue, in humanity⁠—
Of all who, on despair’s unhallowed bed
Lying down to die, have suddenly arisen
At thy soft-murmured words, “Let there be light!”
At the soft-murmured words that were fulfilled
In the seraphic glancing of thine eyes⁠—
Of all who owe thee most, whose gratitude
Nearest resembles worship⁠—oh, remember
The truest, the most fervently devoted,
And think that these weak lines are written by him⁠—
By him who, as he pens them, thrills to think
His spirit is communing with an angel’s.