The One Hope

When vain desire at last and vain regret

Go hand in hand to death, and all is vain,

What shall assuage the unforgotten pain

And teach the unforgetful to forget?

Shall Peace be still a sunk stream long unmet,—

Or may the soul at once in a green plain

Stroop through the spray of some sweet life-fountain

And cull the dew-drenched flowering amulet?

Ah! when the wan soul in that golden air

Between the scriptured petals softly blown

Peers breathless for the gift of grace unknown,—

Ah! let none other alien spell soe'er

But only the one Hope's one name be there,—

Not less nor more, but even that word alone.