STANZAS.
Reading edition
Say, what is Love?—a bubble On life's dull current fleeting, A thousand hues and visions bright On its frail surface meeting; It breaks, and where that vision fair? Ocean's dark depth may answer, Where? Say what is Love?—'tis light On life's dark billows thrown; Oh, glorious the first glance That on those waters shone! 'Tis gone,—those waves, illum'd no more, Roll darkly on life's desert shore. Say what is Love?—a glimpse, Life's stormy clouds between, Of that bright heaven, where all Is cloudless and serene; A look, ere night and darkness come, Beyond the terrors of the tomb! Come all whose blighted bosom, Love's cruel pangs deceive, Say what shall be the garland For lovers' brows to weave? A lone leaf on a blasted tree, This, this Love's coronal shall be!