LINES

WRITTEN UNDER A PICTURE OF A GIRL BURNING

A LOVE LETTER.

The lines were fill'd with many a tender thing,

All the impassion'd heart's fond communing.

I TOOK the scroll: I could not brook

An eye to gaze on it save mine;

I could not bear another's look

Should dwell upon one thought of thine.

My lamp was burning by my side,

I held thy letter to the flame,

I mark'd the blaze swift o'er it glide,

It did not even spare thy name.

Soon the light from the embers past,

I felt so sad to see it die,

So bright at first, so dark at least,

I fear'd it was love's history.